It was only painted on April 9.
But now it seems the Repeal the Eight mural is coming down… or being painted over to be more exact.
The mural is on the front wall of Dublin’s Project Arts Centre and the reason it will have to be taken down is because the centre is at risk of losing its charitable status if it remains.
The Projects Arts Centre released a statement this afternoon explaining the issue.
“The Charities Regulator has informed Project Arts Centre that the display of Maser’s ‘Repeal the 8th’ artwork is ‘political activity’ and that we are therefore in breach of the Charities Act 2009 and not in line with our ‘charitable purpose’.
“Should the artwork not be removed, we risk losing our charitable status. Project Arts Centre respects the authority of the Charities Regulator and will comply with their order to remove Maser’s artwork.”
Maser first painted the mural in 2016 but was removed a month later due to planning rules. it was erected again on April 9, and many believed it would stay there until the referendum is over.
For the second time, the @MaserArt #Repealthe8th mural is to be painted over at @projectarts. This attempt to silence debate and stifle momentum around Repeal the 8th will not work. – @RebeccaMoy https://t.co/M6EYyk454V #Together4Yes pic.twitter.com/ZVChlJwdp8
— The Labour Party (@labour) April 20, 2018
The chair of Project Arts Centre, Fiona Slevin:
“The Board and executive of Project are conscious of their obligations under the Charities Act 2009 and the charitable purpose of the organisation.
“We strive to sustain Project’s stated purpose and objectives, namely to remain Ireland’s leading centre for the presentation and development of contemporary art, and to work with artists across all art forms to make and present extraordinary works that inspire and provoke. The artwork by Maser fits precisely with this remit.”
Well this is in bits.We played by all the rules but when ppl put their minds to finding more rules, they’ll always find something. We fought as much as we could to keep it but this is not the fight for rn. The @MaserArt mural @projectarts comes down on Mon at 11am. #RepealThe8th pic.twitter.com/JdPEXWyhWO
— The HunReal Issues (@HunRealIssues) April 20, 2018
The HunReal Issues, who commissioned the mural wrote on Twitter: “We played by all the rules but when ppl [sic] put their minds to finding more rules, they’ll always find something.”
The mural will be painted over on Monday, April 23 at 11am.
