Athlone gallery board refuses to remove artwork

The board which oversees the management of Athlone's Luan Gallery has rejected calls to have a controversial artwork removed from the facility. The 15-member board of Athlone Art and Heritage Ltd met this afternoon to discuss Cllr Mark Cooney's call to have an exhibit by Shane Cullen removed "because it is offensive to so many people." The artwork in question is based on messages smuggled out of prison by republican hunger strikers in Northern Ireland. A statement which the board issued to the Westmeath Independent this evening said: "While the board of Athlone Art and Heritage is aware of the range of views recently expressed, the board is satisfied that the current programme, entitled 'Borrowed Memories' and including the piece 'Fragmens sur le Institutions Republicaines IV' (by Shane Cullen) is within the strategy adopted for the Luan Gallery." It went on to say that the board had full confidence in the managerial and curatorial arrangements in relation to the gallery. "It would not be the intention of the board to direct the removal of any artwork from a public space which would deny visitors to the gallery the opportunity for respectful, critical and reasoned inquiry and debate." A more detailed response will be issued by the board to Athlone Town Council in advance of its next monthly meeting in February.