LIMERICK City and County Council has announced that the theatre space and building at 69 O’Connell Street will be re-launched in 2015 as an arts and culture centre.
A steering committee created to identify ITS future use has recommended that the arts and culture centre be established to benefit Limerick’s thriving small festival, cultural and arts community to provide a legacy from Limerick, National City of Culture 2014.
Since the local authority acquired the entire building last year and following the liquidation of the Belltable Arts Centre, a partnership initiative has existed at the premises between the Lime Tree Theatre, the Limerick Arts Office and The Arts Council under the name of the Limerick Arts Encounter Programme.
This arts programme was awarded an Arts Council grant towards the cost of presenting a range of arts events until March 2014 including theatre, cinema, visual art, music, dance and comedy. This was extended for a further year, to March 2015 on the successful completion of the Limerick Arts Encounter programme.
The new Limerick Arts and Culture Centre Ltd will be an independent company with a Board of Directors. The building will remain wholly owned by Limerick City and County Council.
It is expected that the Centre will open in early 2015 once refurbishment works are complete.
