Petition to save community arts centre from losing its home

A community arts centre is asking the public to sign a petition to prevent it losing its home.

The centre has operated for the last five years at the Camden Palace Hotel in Cork City, but the building has fallen under the control of Nama, which is seeking to sell it off.

Centre spokesman Eoin Gallagher said that since it opened “it has become a fully sustainable, multi-faceted arts facility who values art for its own power of change on an individual and collective level”.

“Importantly, this is achieved purely through the diligence of artists and volunteers. Camden Palace Hotel receives zero funding,” Mr Gallagher said.

He said at the centre is “where people of all backgrounds and skill sets can come together to express ideas and breathe life into artistic projects making them reality for the benefit of Cork and community”.

“We now need public help urgently to save Camden Palace Hotel Community Arts Centre.

“We are petitioning the National Assets Management Agency to extend our lease with the intention for us to purchase it,” he said.

The public is being asked to sign the petition at www.facebook.com/savecamdenpalacecork or www.twitter.com/Savecamdenp