Welcome to Tullamore Arts Centre

Developing a Community Arts Centre in Tullamore.

Tullamore is the only County town in Ireland without a Community Arts Centre.

Concern over imminent loss of €2m funding for Arts Centre
Grave concern has been expressed by various community groups that €2 million earmarked to be spent in the local economy will be lost if an arts centre project is not agreed upon and built by the end of 2010.

December 2009 - The Phoenix group continue to use the Old Texas Department building as a space for workshops in Circus Skills, Dance, Art, Movement, Film Making & Multimedia.

August 2009 - Steering Group, Council executives and councillors review different Arts Centres around the country.

June 2009 - The steering group composed of local artists, community groups and business representatives are currently reviewing their structure and various aspects of the proposed Arts Centre for Tullamore.

March 2009 - Public meeting held to discuss the proposed Tullamore Arts Centre was attended by hundreds of people from the local community. The ‘steering group’ given a mandate to progress the issue with the Offaly County Council and realise a definite plan for the construction of an Community Arts Centre in Tullamore.

Prompted by the urgency of the situation, a Public Meeting was called, by the various groups on Wednesday 25^th March 2009 in Hugh Lynch's.

The huge local support by the community for an Art Centre was expressed by the full house at the meeting.
Those present eased a sigh of relief as Mr. Barry Cowen, Chairperson of Offaly County Council, stated that the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism have confirmed that the grant of €2M is ringfenced for an Arts Centre in Tullamore until 2010, and that he would personally facilitate progressing the issue with the local 'Art Centre Group' members, SPC members and the Department.

The meeting agreed that the current working group would progress the issue in the coming weeks, collating the needs of the various groups, and clarify any questions with the Department regarding criteria for funding.

In April 2007 €2 million funding was approved by the Government for an Arts Centre in Tullamore but until now there had been no movement by the local authority to implement a plan or draw down funding.

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