SSA Architects has been commissioned to design two new residential studios for Dublin's Fire Station Artists' Studios.

It is part of a major expansion programmes which will see the number of combined living and working studios it offers to artists increase from eight to ten.

Since its conception in 1993, Fire Station Artists' Studios has been home to more than 80 artists including Sean Hillen, Corban Walker, Alice Maher, Jesse Jones and Patrick Graham and has supported over 100 artists annually.

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Fire Station continues its commitment to supporting the lives and careers of artists by expanding their premises to the building next door at number 12 Buckingham Street, a three-storey derelict house.

Fire Station director Clodagh Kenny said: "We are delighted to be opening two additional residential studios in the building next door to Fire Station. Supporting the lives and careers of artists is what we do, so increasing this capacity is of great value for Irish visual artists and it marks a major achievement for Fire Station. For the past 21 years the demand for residential studios has increased year on year. At a time when cut-backs within the arts are, unfortunately, widespread, we are proud of this significant development and the opportunity to increase our capacity to support visual artists in Ireland."

(CD/MH)