Hotel Ballymun
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| Artist Name(s) | Seamus Nolan |
| Artwork title | Hotel Ballymun |
| Context/Background | Seamus Nolan's Hotel Ballymun was commissioned by Breaking Ground, the per cent for art commission programme for Ballymun Regeneration Limited, and was curated by Aisling Prior. Breaking Ground was launched in Ballymun in February 2002 and continued until 2008. |
| Description | Hotel Ballymun was conceived by artist Seamus Nolan. From 23 March to 27 April 2007, the 15th floor of Clarke Tower, one of the last remaining tower blocks in Ballymun, was transformed into a short stay hotel. Nolan worked with local residents to develop a series of furniture workshops which took place in January and February 2007. Participants worked with furniture designers Sticks and Jonathan Legge, customising and remodelling furniture left behind in the vacated flats to create unique pieces of furniture for the hotel. Guests at Hotel Ballymun were able to appreciate the spectacular views over Dublin, just weeks before these views ceased to exist. Clarke Tower was due for demolition in Summer 2007. In addition to the nine individually designed, single and double bedrooms there was a garden room, a TV lounge, communal kitchen, reception area, breakfast and seating area, as well as an intimate conference and events centre. The rooms were furnished with one-off pieces, customised and remodelled from existing furniture, which were designed and made by people from the Ballymun area. A diverse programme of cultural and social events took place throughout the day and evening time including talks, live art and music performances. During the day from 2 -5p.m daily there was also a chance for the general public to take the lift up to view Hotel Ballymun. There were a maximum of twenty places in the audience or for participants, depending on the nature of the event, making for an intimate and memorable experience. The Hotel opened with nine guest bedrooms. In addition to these there was a lounge, reception area, TV room, conference room and a garden room. At the close of the project, an auction was held for all of the furniture made for and used in the project. Funds generated by the auction along with the donations made by Hotel guests were used to fund arts bursaries and scholarships for people in Ballymun. Hotel Ballymun was commissioned by Breaking Ground, the percent for art programme for Ballymun Regeneration Limited, was launched in Ballymun in February 2002 and completed in 2010. |
| Mediation | A catalogue, featured on in the books section, and DVD were produced Two essays, Hotel Ballymun: A Site for Reflection in the Heady Days of Regeneration by Ellen Rowley and Enabling Conversations by Mark Garry were written to mark the project. Radio and TV Coverage included: Newspaper and magazine coverage included: |
| Biographies | Seamus Nolan is an artist based in Dublin. He was the recipient of Wexford County Council's inaugural Emerging Visual Artist Award 2006. Since then he has completed a residency in the Irish Museum of Modern Art, shown work in Japan, London and Venice with The Pilot Archives, in the Art in the Life World exhibition in Ballymun, and Phoenix Park in The Kerlin Gallery. He has had solo shows in both The LAB and the Wexford Art Centre, and has completed temporary public art works including Nature Reserve for Europalia in Brussels and Hotel Ballymun in Ballymun Co. Dublin, commissioned by Breaking Ground. |
| Commission Type | Regeneration Agency,Local Authority |
| Commissioner Name | Aisling Prior for Breaking Ground, Ballymun Regeneration Ltd |
| Commissioning process | Curated commission |
| Project commission dates | April 30, 2005 - April 26, 2007 |
| Public Presentation dates | March 23, 2007 - April 26, 2007 |
| Artform | Visual Arts |
| Art Practice | Arts Participation |
| Percent for art | Yes |
| Budget Range | 150000 - 250000 euro |
| Project commission start date | 30/04/2005 |
| Project commission end date | 26/04/2007 |
| Location | Clarke Tower, Ballymun |
| County | Dublin |
| Town | Ballymun |
| Street Address | Main Street, Ballymun |
| Google Map Insert | View this projects location |
| Content contributor(s) | Denise Reddy |
| Relationship to project | Assistant Art Project Manager |
| Public engagement | Local, national and international audience |
| Associated professionals / Specialists involved | Breaking Ground Team: |
