We hope that you have been enjoying the recent sunshine and dry weather (hoorah!). We certainly have, and we've been seeing a few more people wandering in to us over the last few days too. When the weather is nice, we tend to do more and plan more trips and activities for ourselves.

Which got me thinking. Why should you visit RUA RED on your next day off or trip to Dublin?
Of course, we know the answer to this but we thought you might not know, so here are our top 10 reasons to visit the arts centre!

1. The Galleries
Gallery 1 and 2 are open every day from 10am - 6pm. They are free to visit and present a wide programme of exhibitions throughout the year. Exhibition are between 2 - 5 weeks in length so you should see something different regularly. All the info on current and upcoming exhibitions is found here.

2. Music Rooms
We have 5 fantastic music rooms to rent from only 10euro an hour - including backline! We have top amps, guitars, microhpones etc to fully equip your band. Or you can bring your own instrument and rehearse privately. They book up really fast though so please book ahead!

3. RUA RED 24
This has to feature high on our list because we all love food...especially the delicious cakes on offer. RUA RED 24 is our lovely, bright cafe on the ground floor with great value combos and a kids area and art trolley for the little ones!

4. Arts Classes
At the moment we are unable to run our own arts classes (watch this space for updates) but we do have a number of tutors and organisations running courses and classes including; kids art, bellydance, drama, youth film, hip hop dance, adult arts groups, photography clubs and writers groups. Find out more here.

5. Great Media Facilities
We are very fortunate to have a fully equipped media lab facility on our 2nd floor. We've got 10 lovely Apple Macs with a software package to satisfy any creative mind. You can hire a station to do any creative work that you would like including movie editing, music composition, animation and graphic design. We'll be launching a New Media Class and Course list shortly!

6. We're really easy to get to!
Fact. I know some people think we're 'way out there in Tallaght' but you would be astonished at how accessible we are. The best way to get to us is to jump on the Red Luas line and sit on it until you reach Tallaght. Turn to your right...and there we are! We're also super easy to get to by bus and car. Have a look here.

7. You can make a day of it!
Get to us for 10am and enjoy a nice morning coffee and pastry in the cafe followed by a leisurely look around the galleries. Pop into a class or workshop. Have a bite to eat for lunch before a couple of hours editing a movie in our mac lab or jamming in a music room. Nip out to the Square for a bit of shopping or to the County Library for a browse. Have a lovely dinner in the Interval Bistro followed by a show at the Civic Theatre. Perfect!

8.We're so pretty...
Did you know we recently won 3 awards for our amazing architecture (take a look)? The centre isn't only great to work in but its great to look at too. Come by for a squint at our beautiiful white cube gallery, coloured exterior facades and award winning branding (courtesy of Zinc - Winner IDI 09)!

9. We love little people.
We love having children and young people of any age in the centre. They always give us such great insights into their view of the exhibitions and the acoustics of our stairwell (screaming really echoes!) Our big red art trolley will keep little hands occupied while you enjoy a coffee and a seat, and there is plenty of room for prams and strollers.

10. We made a list!
We are so sure that you should come here we went to the trouble of making a list!! Surely that proves how lovely we are?

See you soon!
RUA RED Team.