A chara, - I would like to immediately take issue with Winifred Grealy's claim (May 6th), that Heritage Properties has "dropped the plans for a sculptors' centre" in Smithfield Village. Nothing could be further from the truth. Heritage Properties Ltd is, in fact significantly supporting the establishment of a Sculpture Centre in Smithfield, as proposed by the Sculptors' Society of Ireland.
Support for the arts from the private sector, particularly property developers, is notoriously difficult to secure. In order to cultivate an environment of mutual trust and cooperation between the private sector and the arts industry, such support must be properly acknowledged and credited when it is obtained. The HARP plan too, should be commended for focusing on an area hitherto virtually entirely ignored and neglected by both the Corporation and development companies. The Sculptors' Society looks forward to the establishment of a thriving Sculpture Centre in Smithfield in the near future. Yours, etc.,
Director,
Sculptors Society of Ireland, Capel Street,
Dublin 1.