ARTISTS in Clonakilty are now in limbo after the town’s community arts centre lost its base, with three staff losing their jobs as a result.

Located at Astna Square, Clonakilty Community Arts Centre provided studio and exhibition space for many of West Cork’s creatives since 2012 but vacated its current space in February with no alternative in sight. Its closure has left a gap in the town’s creative scene.

‘I’ve had no work since we left Astna Square’, said Mark Whitesides, who lost his job as curator at the arts centre.

‘The building at Astna Square is empty and no one has bought it since it went up for sale in November 2024. The building we applied to move into for six months is empty, at 8 Kent Street. They finished refurbishing it over a month ago. We are still waiting to hear from the council to see if we can move in there. There’s also Deasy’s Brewery on Western Road which is empty, but that would cost millions to develop.’

Most of the equipment from the centre has been stored in a small storage space which the group managed to secure while most members still meet on a weekly basis at the Community Resource Centre on Western Road. 

Last August, more than 100 people gathered in Clonakilty town centre for a support rally. The Southern Star  had reported in September that the centre was given a reprieve until the end of February of this year, launching a last-ditch attempt launched to find new premises.

Cllr Isobel Towse  (SD) raised the issue at a recent meeting of the West Cork Municipal District, pointing out that there was a perfectly good council building waiting to be used at 8 Kent Street.

Cork South West FF TD Christopher O’Sullivan said he has urged Cork County Council to consider the building on Kent Street as a new temporary home for the centre, saying the Astna Square location had been a community hub bringing people from all over West Cork together and life to the square.

‘It’s sad that it’s gone from there, but the important thing is that we find a new home. I know that the council have to go through a process and I respect that, but I’ve already urged them to make sure that the arts centre is considered for Kent Street. We need to get exhibitions up and running again and we need to get those artists to get active again. If it goes on too long, it will impact them and their mental health,’ said Deputy O’Sullivan.

A spokesperson for Cork County Council said: ‘Works at No 8 Kent Street are ongoing and have not yet been completed. Cork County Council will be in touch with those that submitted expressions of interest for the meanwhile use of the building in due course.’