Dance Cork Firkin Crane Awarded FUNDING FROM THE HERITAGE COUNCIL

Funding from a Community Heritage Grant from The Heritage Council will enable DCFC to develop a Conservation Management Plan.

Dance Cork Firkin Crane (DCFC) is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a Community Heritage Grant from The Heritage Council to develop a comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for its historic building, a key part of Cork’s cultural heritage.

Located in the architecturally significant area of Shandon, Dance Cork Firkin Crane is a centre for dance serving artists, community groups, young people and audiences. In 2024, DCFC welcomed over 13,000 participants and nearly 12,000 audience members. In 2025, DCFC approaches the 170th anniversary of the building’s opening; this milestone offers a timely opportunity to share future plans and organise events during National Heritage Week from 16-24 August 2025. Further details to be announced in the upcoming months.

The grant allows DCFC to engage architect Christopher Southgate and archaeologist James Byrne to carry out research on the building and develop a management plan that will safeguard and upgrade the facilities over the coming years. 

The CMP will create a roadmap for preserving the exterior fabric of the building while addressing critical internal considerations such as energy performance, sustainability and climate resilience. It aims to ensure the long-term viability of DCFC as a vibrant and accessible hub for dance and the arts. The project timeline is set to begin immediately, with key milestones including historical research, site assessment, stakeholder consultation, and community engagement throughout 2025.

Laurie Uprichard, DCFC’s Executive Artistic Director, noted that “We are eager to embark on the development of this plan which will map out how best to ensure a long and sustainable future for the broad range of uses on offer in support of dance in the City and the region – from professional performances to artist residencies to children’s and youth classes.” 

Christopher Southgate and James Byrne added that “We see the building as a landmark within Shandon and an expanding city, where its relationship to other buildings and activities inspire a heritage urban landscape approach. This will contribute to the transformation of a city, where heritage is not merely preservation but also an inspiration for a new vision for the city by enhancing public realm”.

Read the full statement from Southgate Associates Quote here.

This project has been supported with funding from The Heritage Council.