The Government is facing renewed calls to take steps to revitalise and protect Dublin's arts and culture scene.
There was outcry yesterday when popular pub after admitting defeat in its bid to keep its outdoor beer garden and restaurant open.
The venue is the latest creative hub to close its doors, following the likes of the Tivoli and Andrews Lane Theatre.
Dublin City councillor Kevin Donoghue said the latest closure highlights the threat facing the city's arts and cultural spaces.
He said: "The Bernard Shaw is a cultural institution in the city, where many up and coming artists can perform and display their work.
"Dublin has a proud history of contributing significantly to the arts and culture world.
"However, in recent months key iconic cultural venues across the city such as their doors."
The newly elected Labour councillor called on Minister for Culture Josepha Madigan to establish a consultative forum in an attempt to revitalise the arts and culture tradition in the capital.
He said: “Our city cannot become one full of trendy boutique hotels and fancy student apartments. Dublin is world-renowned as a hub for arts and culture, where artistic talent can flourish.
"However, that reputation is at stake, if we continue to allow our arts and culture landscape to fade away.
“As well as a consultative forum, it is time for the Government and Dublin City Council to prioritise the delivery of a night mayor as outlined in the Dublin Agreement to help ensure night life and the night time economy doesn’t die in our capital city.
"With the closure of venues like the Tivoli and Hangar and now the Bernard Shaw the ability for Dubliners to enjoy late nights way from the main tourist centres is decreasing.
“If Dublin was to have our own night mayor, they would be able to liaise between venues and the courts when it comes to licensing, they would also be able to work with transport companies such as Dublin Bus to develop a better strategy around late night routes."
Activist Andrea Horan echoed the calls for Government intervention to preserve the city's unique heritage.
Speaking on the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk this morning, she said: "Our cultural institutions and spaces are being eradicated and hotels are going up in their place and there's no space being left for cultural spaces.
"It's the job of hotel owners to make hotels make money. That's their job.
"Whose job is it to create these cultural spaces? I think that's the job that's not being done at the moment."
The Tropical Popical owner recently founded a new movement called No More Hotels aimed at revitalising the city's nightlife.
"With the gentrification of the city, we're cleansing it of any sort of personality," she said.
"We're putting in loads of glass buildings, coffee shops, restaurants which is great for the tech bros and for the developers but what about the people who actually live in the city. Who are we building the city for?
"We're just, it seems at the moment, building it for tourists. We're not building it for people who need to go out at night."
Dublin Live has contacted the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for comment.
