For the last 38 years, Sculpture in Context has been a pivotal event in the Irish arts calendar and from small beginnings in 1985 it has grown to be the longest running, largest and most important dedicated sculpture exhibition in the country.

Sculpture in Context is a not-for-profit organisation run on a pro bono basis by a small committee of practicing artists. Over the last decade the size and scale of the exhibition has grown by over 200%. As a result, the time now required to organise and run this large event is no longer feasible for a voluntary committee. We need adequate funding to put a commercial platform in place to ensure the organisation’s long-term future.

We are hugely appreciative of the funding and support we receive from the OPW, the National Botanic Gardens and our very loyal sponsors. And not forgetting the thousands of artists who have exhibited with us and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who have attended and supported the exhibition over the years.

To date we have been unsuccessful in obtaining any other funding.

Up to now, Sculpture in Context has been self-financing with the income from entry fees and sales commission providing the funding to cover the operating costs of the following years show. All funding from our sponsors goes towards awards for artists. The committee receive no payment for time spent on organisation and administration, this is an unsustainable situation going forward.

We are confident that this hiatus will give us the time to concentrate on implementing a succession plan and to canvas and obtain the public and private funding that will ensure the future of Sculpture in Context.

With sufficient funding in place, we will be back in the Botanic Gardens in 2025 with this unique arts experience that supports artists, promotes sculpture in Ireland and contributes so much to Ireland’s cultural life and to Dublin’s reputation as a modern vibrant city.