Philip Hammond, the Northern Ireland Arts Council's performing arts director, who has composed a specially-commissioned Fanfare for tonight's opening concert
Hammond views the Waterfront as having "the potential to be one of the most exciting and challenging new platforms for the arts in Belfast... The challenge is two-way. The promoters and events organisers must find the audiences to come and support the arts in this new setting, while the Waterfront administration needs to establish itself within the arts community. And on the other hand, existing arts venues need to look to their laurels and start reappraising their level of performance, with this brand new facility appearing on their doorsteps.
Robin Midgley, artistic director of the Lyric Theatre
"It is a magnificent venue. Naturally, I am thrilled that the Lyric is launching The Studio space. Indeed, I see our inclusion so early in the opening festival as a very encouraging statement of intent. I hope that the Waterfront will encourage people into going out to a gig or a concert in pleasant, entertaining surroundings. That is something they don't do in great numbers at present. The more successful the Waterfront is in drawing people out, the greater the benefit to the other arts venues in Belfast."
Belfast Festival programme director, Sean Doran
From my point of view, it is very good news that advance ticket sales have been so good but I will be keeping a close watch on how the hall performs after the initial hype of the first month. I am prepared to sit and see how it works for a few months before hardening up my festival plans. So although I will be using it in some capacity for the 1997 festival, I don't expect it to really come into its own until the following year, when I would be aiming to bring in names like Jessye Norman, Bryn Terfel, the Cleveland Orchestra world-class performers who can fill a venue of this size. Like the festival itself, the Waterfront should be taking on a leadership role and I believe it has the potential to dramatically change the whole arts scene in Belfast."
