Arts Council helps launch £10.5 million extension to Grand Opera House The Arts Council of Northern Ireland today (Friday October 20 th) helped the Grand Opera House to launch its new £10.5 million extension. The extension makes a striking addition to the listed Victorian theatre, and introduces a range of modern facilities to one of Belfast’s best-known cultural buildings.
‘Act II’ has been funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), the Grand Opera House Trust, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Ulster Garden Villages. The extension takes a £2.3 million slice of the Arts Council’s current £10 million investment in improving arts facilities in Belfast. The Arts Council has invested a further £28 million in regional arts facilities. Speaking at this morning’s unveiling, Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, said, “The Grand Opera House is a cultural landmark that holds special memories for people in Northern Ireland, often of their first real theatrical or musical experience. Now it’s set to cast its spell over a new generation of theatre goers. The Arts Council is delighted to be a principal funder of the new facilities, which will make that magical quality of the theatre-going experience even more rewarding, and offer audiences a greater variety of productions. New front-of-house amenities – bars, cafes and function rooms - will enhance the quality of the theatre experience, while improved back-stage areas and a new stage will encourage the popular large-scale theatrical and musical productions to Belfast. Local productions gain a flexible, multi-purpose 150-seater performance space called ‘The Baby Grand’, which doubles up for educational and outreach events, film, comedy nights, workshops and conferences. James Hunt, Chair of the Grand Opera House Trust , spoke about the new jobs that the “stunning new building and facilities” have created: “I am very pleased to announce the creation of 75 new jobs at the Grand Opera House both full-time and part-time, which illustrates the impact this project has had on the economic regeneration of Belfast.” Paul Sweeney, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure , reinforced this message: “Once again the Grand Opera House is leading the way in a new generation of investment in Belfast’s arts and cultural infrastructure. Today marks the beginning of a new and exciting phase in the cultural life of the city and the region it serves.” The Grand Opera House plays to 300,000 people every year. Audiences will be able to enjoy the new facilities when the Grand Opera House opens its doors for business once again on Sunday 22 nd October.
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