Appeal to public to support Cork's Firkin Crane

Preserving culture and heritage is not just about safeguarding old buildings - it is about protecting the heartbeat of our communities

In Cork, few places embody this more vividly than the Firkin Crane.

For more than 170 years, this Shandon landmark has stood as a testament to the city’s history, its creativity, and its commitment to nurturing the arts.

Recently, we completed vital roof works that secure the future of this extraordinary building. But the story of the Firkin Crane (with the organisation rebranding to Dance Cork Firkin Crane in 2022) is about more than architecture - it is about sustaining culture, supporting artists, and ensuring that the legacy of dance in Ireland continues to thrive.

The Firkin Crane was built in 1855 as a butter weighing house at the heart of Cork’s global export trade. Over time, it has been transformed into Ireland’s first dedicated dance house: a 235-seat performance venue, a year-round creative hub, and a home to artists from across the country and around the world.

It offers professional studios, residencies, artists’ accommodation, technical support, and a rich programme of performances. It is both a historic building and a living, breathing centre of contemporary creativity.

The completion of the roof works is a major milestone. Beyond the practical importance of weatherproofing and structural stability, it represents a commitment to heritage and culture.

Funded by Cork City Council, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and philanthropic partners like the Machamer Charitable Fund, this €200,000 investment ensures that the Firkin Crane remains a place where history and artistry coexist.

The Conservation Management Plan we developed as part of the project, funded by a Community Heritage Grant from The Heritage Council, provides a roadmap for preserving this building while supporting its continued evolution as a national resource for dance.

Yet preserving heritage is never a one-time task, it is a continuous effort that requires investment, care, and community engagement. Maintaining a protected building like the Firkin Crane carries ongoing costs.

While public funding has been essential, the organisation continues to service a loan and faces conservation expenses. That is why we are now inviting Cork and beyond to invest in the next chapter of our story through the Friends of Dance Cork Firkin Crane membership scheme.

Membership starts at €50 per year and offers benefits such as ticket offers, a complimentary glass of wine, and opportunities to engage closely with the artistic programme.

Professional dance artists can access a dedicated Artist Friend tier with reduced studio hire rates, helping to support the creators who make this building come alive.

For me, Dance Cork Firkin Crane is more than a venue, it is a home for artistic exploration and a beacon of culture. Every performance, every rehearsal, every workshop is a reminder that heritage is meaningful only when it is lived and experienced.

The past few years have been a time of renewed energy for the organisation. With our reinstatement to Arts Council Strategic Funding, we are developing a three-year strategy to expand artistic growth, foster national and international partnerships, and enhance support for artists at every stage of their careers.

Jean Butler, renowned dance artist and Our Steps Director, captured it beautifully: “The iconic building holds so much of Ireland’s dance history, and investing in the building is investing in the future of dance in Ireland.”

Preserving heritage is not about looking backwards; it is about giving artists and audiences the foundation to create, experiment, and imagine the future. Each repair, each contribution, each act of engagement is a step in that dance.

Dance Cork Firkin Crane is entering a new era, confident, ambitious, and artist-focused. It is a space where innovation thrives, where Cork’s cultural identity is on full display, and where the arts serve as a bridge between past and present. But this vision can only succeed with collective effort.

The preservation of heritage is, ultimately, a community responsibility. It requires people to step forward, invest in culture, and ensure that spaces like the Firkin Crane continue to inspire generations to come.

Public investment has made this essential phase possible, but now we are inviting shared partnership from anyone who believes in dance, heritage, and Cork’s cultural future.

Supporting Dance Cork Firkin Crane is not just about maintaining a building, it is about sustaining a living tradition, a home for creativity, and a resource that has touched countless artists and audiences over decades.

By joining Friends of Dance Cork Firkin Crane, you are helping to safeguard history while enabling new stories, new performances, and new ideas to flourish.

As we raise the roof, literally and figuratively, we extend an invitation to the entire community: come dance with us, support the arts, and help protect Cork’s cultural heritage.

The Firkin Crane has endured for over 170 years because of shared commitment, vision, and care. Together, we can ensure it continues to nurture artists, inspire audiences, and celebrate the transformative power of dance for decades to come.

For more information about becoming a Friend of Dance Cork Firkin Crane or to support the campaign, visit dancecorkfirkincrane.ie or contact communications and development associate Emer Casey at emer@firkincrane.ie / 021 4507487.