Hotel Ballymun

Breaking Ground, the Per Cent for art programme for Ballymun, Dublin, Ireland.

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 the history of the Irish State, and as such is widely recognised as the flagship for contemporary public art projects in Ireland. Breaking Ground has commissioned a huge variety of contemporary art projects, from permanent light works by artists such Corban Walker, to large scale temporary projects such as Seamus Nolan's 'Hotel Ballymun', which saw an abandoned tower block converted into a short stay hotel for one month. Breaking Ground is committed to being a continual and progressive resource within the local community. Breaking Ground is also keen to create intelligent debate and discussion about contemporary art, challenging perceptions about what can be achieved within communities. As such Breaking Ground has 2 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. Breaking Ground is currently nearing the end of its second phase of commissions, and will launch artworks in Autumn 2008 by artists such as Cecily Brennan, John Byrne, Kevin Atherton and Martin Healy. Contact website: www.breakingground.ie