BYCATRIONA GALLEN
THE new Art Centre in Letterkenny is on target to open on July 7 in time for the Earagail Arts Festival.
The multi-million euro complex offers a new dynamic in art for the people of Donegal and it will be opened with an unprecedented art exhibition. The major museum type exhibition brings together 20 renowned artists' work.
The 1,700 sq metre building is a huge transformation from the current 125 sq metre art centre on Oliver Plunkett road and opens up a new world of art for all ages. It will house a 150 seater cinema complete with retractable seating. It will also be home to a vast gallery space and two music rooms, one which has a grand piano. There will be a wet room for all budding artists to paint in, and dance studios. The centre promises to be haven of creativity and offers extensive resources to groups and educational projects throughout the county.
The staff are preparing to move into the new art centre, adjacent to An Grianán Theatre, in June.
EXTENDING FESTIVALS
Plans are already afoot to extend the popular May Bealtaine Festival for older people to continue throughout the year with 110 events planned. The children's arts festival, 'Wainfest', traditionally held in autumn, will also be extended.
Manager of the Arts Centre, Mr John Cunningham said a wide range of art programmes have been planned for the grand opening with Donegal man and renowned film critic, Derek O'Connor preparing a film on migration and the Irish diaspora living in Queens, New York. New York Times photographer Deirdre Brennan is preparing a photographic exhibition on the Irish in New York.
Donegal News photographer, Declan Doherty has been busy compiling a pictorial record of the development of the Art Centre over the last 18 months which will also be displayed there.
"The new centre is 1,700 square foot and a different animal to what we all have been used to. There is gallery space, cross border initiatives, educational programmes associated with the Letterkenny Institute of Technology and we will be working in tandem with An Grianán Theatre," said John Cunningham.
"There is a vast scope for a wide range of gigs, both seated and standing. The new centre offers more opportunities for film and visual arts and will be a tremendous asset. It is a resource in every sense of the word, for young people and adults and we will have art programmes for people in every parish in Donegal," he said.
The opening exhibition is entitled "Painting in the Naughtiness" and comprises abstract and semi-abstract work from British and Irish artists such as Ian Davenport, Jason Martin, Sean Scully and Cecily Brown.
