Madam, - The imminent closure of the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre in Dublin comes as very bad news for many types of artists, from painters to poets to composers.
If only one could shrug and say these artists will find other venues - but as Gerry Godley points out (April 26th) the situation in Dublin seems to get worse rather than better: the booming economy and the belief in profit above all else continues to squeeze culture into the margins of Irish society.
For composers, the Mostly Modern Series based at the B of I Arts Centre was an essential chance to develop their work. Now this well-attended concert series is in jeopardy.
Bank of Ireland Group's profits for 2005 recorded in the last annual report were €1.333,000,000, or €3.65 million a day. The centre, employing several people, costs roughly a quarter of a day's profit, or less than 0.0006 per cent of the yearly total, to run. Surely this petty saving measure is a terrible advertisement for the Bank of Ireland. - Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN McLACHLAN, Director, Association of Irish Composers, c/o IMRO Copyright House, Pembroke Row, Dublin 2.