About Breaking Ground

Breaking Ground, the percent for art programme for Ballymun Regeneration Limited, was launched in Ballymun in February 2002. To date Breaking Ground has launched some of the most significant, diverse and challenging public art projects in Ireland, and has been celebrated widely for contributing to the development of contemporary art projects in a socially engaged context.

Breaking Ground has commissioned over 48 projects in 8 years, including permanent bronze works such as Andrew Clancy's Cathode / Anode located outside the main civic building in Ballymun, and large scale temporary projects such as Seamus Nolan's Hotel Ballymun.

Breaking Ground has created intelligent debate and discussion about contemporary art, challenging perceptions about what can be achieved within communities. As such Breaking Ground has successfully pursued two key aims: to bring attention nationally and internationally to projects organised within Ballymun; and to expand and enrich the lives of communities through experiences with contemporary art. the arts.

Background:

In 2000 Ballymun Regeneration Ltd. (BRL) commissioned a Per Cent for Art Strategy for Ballymun. This strategy, called 'Breaking Ground' was launched in February 2002 when the Artistic Steering Committee comprising artists, local representatives and other key people assessed 220 proposals from artists, arts organisations, schools, community organisations and other groups. After a rigorous selection process a variety of arts projects were recommended for commission

Breaking Ground has launched projects in phases, each phase lasting a number of years.

Phase 1: Launched in 2002, Phase one had 4 commissioning strands:
* Art projects which specifically engage the local community;
* Working with the built fabric;
* Once off innovative art events;
* Specific arts education, awareness and training initiatives

Phase 2: Launched in 2005, Phase 2 involved 3 strands:
* Local artist commissions;
* Collaborative commissions;
* Research Papers.

Per Cent for Art

The Per Cent for Art Scheme was first introduced in Ireland in 1988 by the Department of Environment. It allows for one per cent (up to a current maximum of Euro 63,486) on a construction budget, either new build or repairs and maintenance to be spent on commissioning art. Funds may be pooled to allow for major commissions and diversity in the nature of art commissioned under the scheme is encouraged.



Breaking Ground:
Ray Yeates, Artistic Director
ray.yeates@axis-ballymun.ie
Tel (01) 883 2100