After a long delay, the Riverbank Arts Centre will open in Newbridge this weekend with the presentation of an inaugural programme featuring painting, sculpture, music, dance and children's theatre.
The centre was to open last year as Kildare County Council's millennium project. However, after years of fundraising on the part of the local arts community the day has finally arrived when the multi-purpose space can open its doors to the public.
Estimated to have cost just over £3 million, the centre was funded principally by Kildare County Council. It also received grants from the Department of Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht and the Islands, the Department of the Environment, KELT (Leader funding), the Arts Council and sponsors. Local groups raised £230,000.
The official civic opening will take place on September 18th. According to Ms Catriona Fallon of the Riverbank Arts Centre, it represents "an enormous achievement by all the organisations and individuals responsible for supporting the project".
The first programme will include a performance by the Irish Chamber Orchestra; Sleeping Beauty performed by the Lambert Puppet Theatre; and appearances by Niall Toibin and Sean Keane.
Giselle, a dance performance by Kildare's Fluxusdance troupe, commissioned for the opening of the Riverbank, takes place next Monday and Tuesday. Created by dancer-in-residence Cathy O'Kennedy with Michael Foley Dance from New York, the show puts a "new twist" to the classic ballet.
An exhibition by AKA, the Association of Kildare Artists, will include works by Annette McCormack, Margaret Becker, Derek Fitzsimons and Noel Scullion.
The arts centre incorporates an auditorium, two galleries, a wet workshop area and a cafe, which will open soon. The Riverbank Arts Centre can be contacted at 045-433480 or e-mail artscentre@riverbank.ie