Donate and support the Irish Architectural Archive

A letter from Michael Webb, Chairman of the Irish Architectural Archive.

For nearly 40 years the Irish Architectural Archive, Ireland’s buildings record, has been collecting and preserving material of every kind relating to the architecture of the entire island of Ireland, and making it available to the public. Now the Archive is facing a grave situation and we are seeking your support.

From a worsening but workable financial position up to mid- 2012, when grant support was cut again, we ended 2012 with a substantial cash deficit and now face a potential cumulative deficit in excess of €100,000 by the end of 2013. Quite simply, the Archive does not have the resources to operate normally for the whole of the year. The board of the Archive has had to act to protect this vital cultural resource and so we now find ourselves facing the prospect of closing the Archive for July, August and September 2013. We recognise that this will be a significant disruption for Archive users, especially those working on long term research and publication projects. It will also be unfair to hard-working staff all of whom will be made temporarily redundant. But without additional support from you and others, this closure is unavoidable in light of our unsustainable financial position. You can donate by cheque (payable to the Irish Architectural Archive and sent to the Archive at 45 Merrion Square, Dublin 2), by standing order, or by credit card via PayPal.

I am calling on your support and asking you to consider making a donation to the Archive for 2013 and beyond, as some company members, directors and indeed staff members are already doing. I attach a standing order form to make the process as simple as possible.

With many thanks for your consideration,
Yours sincerely,
Michael Webb