One happy but largely unsung result of Ireland’s prosperity has been the creation of quite spectacular new art centres in provincial towns, Louise Cotter has visited three of them in Thurles, Navan and Drogheda
Increased prosperity in the last decade has lead to a wave of new public building types. We have had the council offices and visitor centres; now the regional cultural centre poses new challenges and opportunities for architects and clients alike. The stakes are high: usually built in prominent locations, they are designed as a conscious expression of cultural values and traditions. The success of the centres usually depends on the strength of the programmes and a balance between locally generated and travelling shows.
