OPW: Office of Public Works
Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí
Policy & Procedures
Since 1997, the Irish Government is committed to a policy of incorporating an arts dimension into every Government building project.
The mechanism for the implementation of this policy is mainly included in the Public Art Research Project Steering Group Report to Government (1997), which was subject to Government Decision (S.29498, May, 1997).
In its decision, the Government stated that every Government Department with a construction budget is obliged to implement the per cent for art scheme.
On the basis of this decision, as a Government Department with a construction budget, OPW funds art in State buildings from a per cent for art scheme for capital projects. This involves setting aside 1% of all construction budgets, subject to limits, for an artistic feature. Additional Exchequer funding is set-aside in special cases where extensive capital works are being undertaken. Portrait and other commissions are funded as they arise.
Detailed information is available in the Art Management Handbook: A Guide to the OPW management of Art in State Buildings in October 2002.
Copies are available from the Art Management Office, OPW, 51 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.
Tel: (01) 647 6078 / 647 6076 or Fax: (01) 661 3107.