It’s a curtain falling, leaving a gaping void in the capital’s cultural landscape. The Complex, a hybrid space combining galleries, performance venues, and creative studios, closed its doors this week. For the Irish Greens, this disappearance is not just a local loss, but a sign of profound political failure.
A neighborhood “cruelly disappointed”
Janet Horner, councilor for the north of the city center, makes no secret of her bitterness. For her, the gap between ministerial promises and the reality on the ground has become unbearable. “Despite all the talk about revitalizing the city center, MPs and ministers have cruelly let this neighborhood and its artists down,” she said, adding that the value of an independent cultural space is irreplaceable once lost.
An international paradox
The timing of this closure is all the more difficult for the Green Party’s arts spokesperson, Donna Cooney, to accept. She highlights a striking paradox: while the Irish model of support for artists—notably the basic arts income introduced by the Greens during their previous term in government—is cited as an example by countries like Canada, South Korea, and Norway, the city of Dublin is allowing its own pillars to crumble.
“The closure of The Complex damages the international reputation of Irish culture,” warns Donna Cooney. She sees it as proof of the current government’s blatant lack of understanding of creative ecosystems.
Youth and artistic future in peril
Beyond the loss of a place of entertainment, it’s the workplace of an entire generation that is disappearing. The site housed seventeen artists’ studios, now inaccessible.
For Adam Devine, co-chair of the Young Greens, this closure permanently jeopardizes the path of young people wishing to pursue a career in the arts. “Young people are demanding activities, galleries, concerts. The Complex offered all of this in the heart of Dublin. By closing it, a piece of history disappears, but also a piece of the future,” he laments.
Strategically located on the Luas Red Line, the Complex represented a social and creative hub. Its disappearance reignites the debate on the management of urban spaces and the priority given to culture in the face of real estate pressure and government disengagement.
The Complex in figures:
- 17: The number of artists’ studios permanently closed.
- 1: A unique multidisciplinary space (galleries, comedy, concerts, studios).
- North of the city center: A neighborhood in need of revitalization that is losing its artistic heart.
