Sir, - Aidan Dunne's interview with Kathy McArdle of Project (July 10th), gave disquieting answers to the question raised in the article as to what is the role of an artistic director of a public institution?
We learn, from Ms McArdle, that it is a virtue not to be educated in the art form that one directs. That to be an artistic director she must be a manipulator of creative raw material, "people, money, ideas, whatever, to shape key cultural questions".
The intention of this transformation, she admits, is for each piece of her programme to represent part of her overall ideological position or template. In other words Kathy McArdle, a single individual, enjoys absolute power over a publicly-funded multi-disciplinary arts space. It comes as no surprise to read of conflict with artists, her staff and resignations at board level. Artists and their work are the new peasantry to the Lady of Project manor. - Yours, etc.,
Brian Hand, Greystones, Co Wicklow.