Temple Bar Gallery and Studios
A Dublin contemporary-art gallery and subsidised studio complex supporting visual artists, exhibitions, residencies and public engagement.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, commonly styled Temple Bar Gallery + Studios or TBG+S, is a contemporary visual-art organisation in central Dublin's Temple Bar district. It combines a public exhibition gallery with subsidised production spaces for professional artists, operating across exhibition-making, artist development, residencies and public engagement. Its stated mission is to create, exhibit and engage, linking the presentation of contemporary art with the practical conditions required for artists to develop and sustain their practices. The organisation was established in 1983 under an artist-led principle commonly expressed as being founded “by artists for artists.” Its early premises were located in a former shirt factory. A substantial redevelopment by the Irish architectural practice McCullough Mulvin was completed in October 1994, creating the building that houses the gallery and artist studios. The resulting exhibition environment is not a conventional neutral white cube: its irregular geometry, pillars, openings and shop-front qualities have become part of the institution's physical identity and have provided artists with opportunities to respond directly to the architecture. The current complex contains a contemporary gallery and approximately thirty artist studios. Studio access is structured through artist membership and associate or project-studio arrangements, with applications assessed through a panel appointed by the organisation's board. The spaces are intended to be financially accessible to professional visual artists, making TBG+S both an exhibition venue and an infrastructure organisation within Ireland's contemporary-art ecosystem. Its programme has included solo exhibitions, group exhibitions and curator-led projects involving Irish and international artists working across installation, sculpture, painting, photography, video, performance and conceptual practice. TBG+S has also developed international exchange activity. Since 2007, it has participated in a residency exchange with the Helsinki International Artist Programme, hosting a Finnish artist in Dublin while selecting an Irish artist for a residency in Finland. In 2014 it introduced a Recent Graduate Residency, providing selected recent Irish graduates with studio access, a stipend and travel support intended to help them establish professional practices. The organisation's wider programme has included support for artists at significant international platforms; in 2022, TBG+S curated Niamh O'Malley to represent Ireland at the 59th Venice Biennale. Governance is provided by a voluntary board formally elected by the artist membership. The board is described as comprising artist members alongside external professionals with organisational, business and other relevant expertise. TBG+S is a registered charity and receives substantial support from the Arts Council of Ireland, supplemented by other sponsorship, fundraising and programme-related resources. Its institutional history has included leadership changes, a contested redundancy involving former director Marian Lovett, and continuing efforts to balance public programming, artist support and constrained arts funding. Despite these pressures, the organisation remains an important Dublin platform for contemporary art production, exhibition and professional development.
History
Temple Bar Gallery and Studios was established in Dublin in 1983 as an artist-led organisation intended to provide both exhibition opportunities and practical working space. Its origins lay in a former shirt factory in Temple Bar. Rather than functioning solely as a commercial gallery, the organisation developed as a not-for-profit arts institution whose activities joined public presentation with direct support for artists. A major architectural redevelopment was undertaken by McCullough Mulvin. Completed in October 1994, the resulting building incorporated a contemporary gallery and approximately thirty studios. The building's irregular plan, structural columns, openings and street-facing qualities distinguish it from a conventional white-cube gallery. Artists have used these architectural conditions as part of their exhibition strategies, making the building itself an active element in the institution's programme. The organisation's exhibition history includes presentations by Irish and international artists and a range of curator-led projects. Examples include exhibitions by Garrett Phelan, Elina Brotherus, Ed Atkins, Luke Fowler, Charlotte Prodger, Amie Siegel and Mark Swords, as well as group and research-oriented projects such as “Offline,” “Display Show” and “Temple Bar Gallery + Studios are Dead.” These programmes demonstrate an emphasis on contemporary practice across moving image, installation, sculpture, photography, painting and interdisciplinary work. From 2007, TBG+S participated in an exchange with the Helsinki International Artist Programme. The arrangement enabled a Finnish artist to undertake a residency in Dublin and an Irish artist to work in Finland; Finnish photographer Heli Rekula was among the artists associated with the exchange. The organisation later expanded its artist-development role through the Recent Graduate Residency, introduced in 2014. The scheme offers selected recent Irish graduates a stipend, travel assistance and free studio access, helping participants move from education into professional practice. TBG+S experienced a significant governance and employment dispute in the early 2010s. Marian Lovett, who had led the organisation from 2001, was dismissed in 2010 after the gallery said that Arts Council funding reductions had made her position redundant. Lovett pursued the matter through her union, IMPACT. In 2012, an Employment Appeals Tribunal upheld her claim that the redundancy was not genuine and awarded €30,000 for unfair dismissal. Claire Power became director in 2012, followed by Clíodhna Shaffrey in 2014. Rayne Booth served as programme curator until 2018, and Michael Hill was appointed to that curatorial role in 2019. The organisation has continued to combine local infrastructure with international visibility. In 2013, a crowdfunding campaign supported the installation of Garrett Phelan's roof sculpture “Our Union Only in Truth.” In 2014, TBG+S received an Allianz Business to Arts Award for Best Small Sponsorship. Its most prominent international curatorial responsibility came in 2022, when it curated Niamh O'Malley to represent Ireland at the 59th Venice Biennale. TBG+S is structured as a limited company with charitable status and operates as a registered not-for-profit charity. Its voluntary board is formally elected by artist members and includes artist representatives and external professionals. The organisation receives substantial public support from the Arts Council of Ireland. Studio places are subsidised and allocated through membership or associate and project-studio applications reviewed by a board-appointed panel. This model has made TBG+S a durable part of Ireland's contemporary-art ecology, supporting production, presentation, residencies and professional development in the centre of Dublin.
- 2022
Ireland's Venice Biennale presentation
[1]TBG+S curated Niamh O'Malley's representation of Ireland at the 59th Venice Biennale.
- 2019
Michael Hill appointed Programme Curator
[1]Michael Hill took up the programme curator role.
- 2014
Recent Graduate Residency launched
[1]TBG+S introduced a residency supporting recent Irish art graduates with studio access, a stipend and travel assistance.
- 2014
Business to Arts award received
[1]The organisation received an Allianz Business to Arts Award for Best Small Sponsorship.
- 2013
Garrett Phelan roof sculpture installed
[1]A crowdfunded commission by Garrett Phelan was added to the roof of the building.
- 2012
Employment appeal upheld
[1]An Employment Appeals Tribunal upheld Lovett's unfair-dismissal claim and awarded €30,000.
- 2010
Marian Lovett dismissed
[1]The organisation terminated the position held by director Marian Lovett, citing redundancy following Arts Council budget reductions.
- 2007
HIAP exchange begins
[1]TBG+S joined a residency exchange with the Helsinki International Artist Programme.
- 1994
Redeveloped building completed
[1]McCullough Mulvin's redevelopment of the former shirt-factory premises was completed, creating the gallery and studio complex.
- 1983
Organisation founded
[1]Temple Bar Gallery and Studios was established in Dublin as an artist-led gallery and studio initiative.
Products and positioning
An artist-led, not-for-profit contemporary-art institution that combines public exhibition-making with affordable production infrastructure and professional development for visual artists.
Contemporary art exhibitions · 1983
Contemporary Gallery Programme
The public gallery presents temporary exhibitions by Irish and international artists, including solo presentations, group shows and curator-led projects. Its programme encompasses installation, sculpture, painting, photography, video, performance and interdisciplinary practices. The building's irregular architectural character is frequently treated as part of the exhibition context rather than as a neutral container.
Subsidised visual-artist workspaces · 1983
Artist Studios
TBG+S provides approximately thirty subsidised studios for professional visual artists. Access is offered through membership arrangements, including longer six- or three-year memberships, as well as one-year associate membership and project-studio options. Applications are reviewed through a panel appointed by the organisation's board.
Artist development residency · 2014
Recent Graduate Residency
Introduced in 2014, this programme supports recent Irish graduates as they enter professional practice. The offer includes free studio space, a stipend and a travel award, providing time and resources for participants to develop new work and professional networks.
International artist residency exchange · 2007
HIAP Exchange
The exchange with the Helsinki International Artist Programme supports reciprocal residencies between Dublin and Finland. TBG+S hosts a Finnish artist while an Irish artist is selected for a studio residency in Finland, connecting the organisation's local studio infrastructure to an international network.
Controversies
2012
Marian Lovett unfair-dismissal dispute
After Marian Lovett was dismissed in 2010, TBG+S said her position had become redundant following an Arts Council budget cut. Lovett challenged the decision through her union, IMPACT. In 2012, an Employment Appeals Tribunal upheld her claim that the redundancy was a sham and awarded €30,000 for unfair dismissal.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Niamh O'Malley at the Venice Biennale
Ireland · Italy · International contemporary-art sector
TBG+S curated Niamh O'Malley's project for Ireland's presentation at the 59th Venice Biennale.
Outcome. The project opened as Ireland's official presentation at the biennale.
- 2014Recent Graduate Residency
Ireland
The organisation launched a continuing programme for recent Irish art graduates, combining workspace and financial support with professional development.
Outcome. The residency continued as a recurring artist-development offer.
- 2013Garrett Phelan Roof Sculpture Crowdfunding
Ireland
TBG+S used online crowdfunding to support the commissioning and installation of Garrett Phelan's roof sculpture, “Our Union Only in Truth,” making a public architectural intervention part of the organisation's identity.
Outcome. The sculpture was installed on the gallery building's roof.
Brand decisions
2022
Curatorial role at the Venice BiennaleOtherBackground
Ireland's participation in the 59th Venice Biennale created an opportunity for an Irish institution to present a national artist project internationally.
Action taken
TBG+S curated Niamh O'Malley's representation of Ireland.
Aftermath
The presentation opened in April 2022, extending TBG+S's profile beyond its Dublin exhibition and studio operations.
2014
Launch of Recent Graduate ResidencyStrategyBackground
Recent art graduates often need affordable workspace and resources while transitioning into professional practice.
Action taken
TBG+S created a residency combining free studio access with a stipend and travel support.
Aftermath
The programme became a continuing part of the organisation's artist-development activity.
2007
Adoption of Helsinki residency exchangeStrategyBackground
TBG+S sought to expand opportunities for artists beyond its Dublin base.
Action taken
The organisation entered a reciprocal residency arrangement with the Helsinki International Artist Programme.
Aftermath
The exchange enabled Finnish artists to work in Dublin and Irish artists to undertake residencies in Finland.
1994
Redevelopment of the former shirt factoryStrategyBackground
The original gallery and studios occupied a former shirt factory and required a purpose-oriented transformation.
Action taken
TBG+S commissioned McCullough Mulvin to overhaul the premises, retaining an architecturally distinctive environment for exhibition and studio use.
Aftermath
The completed building became the organisation's long-term gallery and studio complex.
Recent events
- 2022
Niamh O'Malley selected for Ireland's Venice Biennale presentation[1]
Campaign · Other
TBG+S curated Niamh O'Malley's presentation representing Ireland at the 59th Venice Biennale.
- 2014
Recent Graduate Residency introduced[1]
Campaign · Other
TBG+S launched a continuing development scheme for recent Irish art graduates, combining studio space with financial and travel support.
- 2013
Roof sculpture commissioned for the gallery building[1]
Campaign · Other
Garrett Phelan's roof sculpture, bearing the words “Our Union Only in Truth,” was installed following an online crowdfunding effort.
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