Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys was at the M:Tek Digital Hub in Monaghan this morning to launch the Art in the Hubs Scheme. This initiative is being rolled out in partnership with the Contemporary Irish Arts Society and will see unique pieces of art put on display in remote working facilities.
Speaking at the event, Monaghan based artist Niamh O’Connor highlighted how this new pilot not only benefits remote working hubs but also helps showcase the talent and culture that she believes is so "enriched” within rural communities. "It’s a great idea," she told Northern Sound. "It’s a wonderful step forward for rural Ireland in terms of both the digital hub as a concept itself but also in terms of showcasing Irish artists to their own public within rural communities."
Digi hub manager Dora Mac Elwain explained that Enterprising Monaghan has been active for the last 35 years and managed 7 buildings in the county, with 49 tenants who employed circa 400 staff. The recently built extension at the MTEK 1 building housed their new hot desk facility.
Ms Mac Elwain thanked the connected hubs team for the wonderful support they gave to management and staff all over Ireland. Connected hubs was a major player in the training and knowledge development for management staff and tenants. She stated, "Remote working is paramount to the continued development of Rural Ireland. and to have this wonderful display of art within our hubs just puts the icing on the cake,"
many would assume there is no connection between art and business, the Digi Hub manager noted, but both require creativity especially for new start-ups. She hopes that tenants and visitors to the hub would be inspired by these paintings, as she had been.
Minister Humphries believed the venue was particularly appropriate in view of the biophilic design principles upon which the MTEK design facility had been constructed, with plants, water feature and natural light being used to help productivity but also to encourage creativity and wellbeing in the workplace.
It is also important that art gains its rightful place in public buildings and is seen.
