Arts groups in Waterford are to unite in campaigning for better facilities for a city they say should be known for "more than just its crystal".
Although Waterford Corporation is the highest-spending local authority on arts in the State, the city doesn't have a proper rehearsal or workshop space for the variety of artistic activities, from the 250 children who study classical ballet to the performers in the annual Festival of Light Opera.
The extent of such activity surprised even arts group managers who attended a watershed meeting last week organised by the corporation's arts office. "There are people doing arts in this town I have never met before," said a bemused Liam Rellis, general manager of the Red Kettle theatre company.
The intended purpose of the meeting was to give arts organisations an input into the corporation's arts development plan for 2000 to 2003.
Representatives of 15 arts bodies were present, as were the Mayor of Waterford, Mr Pat Hayes, and several city councillors.
The discussion quickly moved beyond the initial agenda, and individual needs were put to one side as those present focused on the big picture and how they could achieve it.
Mr Hayes said it had always struck him that there was a "fractured approach" to arts funding in the city. "I'm wondering what forum you have to make a combined approach about one or two major projects."
Ms Caroline Senior, the artistic director of the Garter Lane Arts Centre, said the Mayor had put his finger on a weakness. "Arts in Waterford need to be about more than individual organisations . . . One arts facility or organisation shouldn't feel challenged by another." The more arts activities the city had the better, she said.
Agreement was quickly reached that an arts forum be established, with an initial meeting by mid-December. Its first priority may be to seek a city-centre rehearsal/workshop space, particularly for children. The lack of such a facility was a recurring theme.
Ms Roisin McGovern, of the Waterford Ballet Academy, said space in a local school was rented for its 250 young students at £2,000 a year. Waterford Youth Drama and Little Red Kettle, which have received international recognition for their work, are in a similar position.
Ms Mary Boland, of Little Red Kettle, said that in Japan, where the group will perform next year, "when they build a theatre they also build one for children. When they build a park for adults they do one for children. Children there are the citizens of today, not just the adults of tomorrow . . . It's vital that something is built for children in this city with a clean, bright and safe environment."
The meeting was chaired by the city arts officer, Mr Derek Verso, who said it was a very exciting time for the arts, with a new national plan having just been announced by the Arts Council and a buoyant economy to support it. There was also a growing awareness of the importance of the arts. "Local authorities who were suspicious of arts officers now realise they can't do without them," he said.
A note of caution, however, was sounded by Spraoi director, Mr T. V. Honan, who stressed the need for long-term planning. Mr Honan, a member of the Arts Council, said that in drawing up its development plan the council had involved the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands at all stages, so the final document was not simply a wish list which the Department had no prior involvement in.
There might have to be a "holding process" while the Waterford plan was being developed. "Not only are the Waterford Corporation estimates well advanced, so are the estimates of other agencies who might be supporting the plan. Really we're looking at the first six months of next year, so it's a plan for 2000 and beyond.
"That's disappointing in a way, but in the meantime we need to work together to make it the best possible arts plan for the city."
Art for art's sake, he added, was still cool. "The expression of art for its own sake is still important. I believe our ability to explain ourselves through music and painting and drama is going to become even more important."
Lofty sentiments perhaps, but Mr Honan was equally quick to highlight the importance of the arts in pure cash terms. "I believe arts bodies have delivered very good value for money in terms of the profile they've given to Waterford. Pound for pound the Tour de France and the millennium party will have been a more expensive way of promoting Waterford than the arts have been."
Lest anyone get carried away, however, Mr Rellis recalled that in his preface to the Arts Council's plan its chairman, Mr Brian Farrell, had said: "The arts are central to our definition of ourselves as a society". Mr Rellis was so impressed by this line he repeated it to a Waterford friend who replied: "Yeah, but so are blaas."