Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council presented the dlr Open Exhibition 2025, themed "Lucid Dreaming," at the Municipal Gallery in dlr LexIcon from December 7, 2025, to February 15, 2026. Curated by Davey Moor of the Royal Hibernian Academy through an open submission process, the exhibition awarded a €1,000 prize to Eimear Carvill, with runners-up Kate McDonagh and Fergal Styles each receiving €250. The launch brought together artists, friends, and art lovers, with remarks from Chief Executive Frank Curran and Councillor Jim Gildea.
The exhibition matters because it highlights the role of local government in nurturing emerging artistic talent, particularly through accessible open-call exhibitions that give community artists a professional platform. The award to a recent IADT graduate underscores the importance of early-career support, while the involvement of a curator from a major national institution like the Royal Hibernian Academy bridges local and institutional art worlds, reinforcing the cultural vitality of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown region.