The people of Co Laois are being asked to raise about £1 million to turn the jail in Portlaoise into one of the most modern arts centres in the State. The jail in question is not one of Ireland's best-known buildings on the Dublin road which houses republican prisoners, but the old jail in the centre of the town which is located beside the courthouse.
Grant aid of £1.3 million has become available from the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and the EU, but the remaining money must come through voluntary contributions from the people of the county.
According to the Dublin-born Laois county arts officer, Ms Muireann Ni Chonaill, when the centre is completed late next year it will be the most exciting development in the arts in the midlands in many years.
The plans for the building, designed by Richard Morrison in 1782, include the provision of a 240-seat theatre, two exhibition galleries, workshop spaces, social facilities and a shop for the sale of high-quality arts merchandise.
"It will also provide a venue for local, national and international art and cultural events and will become not just a focal point for the county but for the country," she said.
"Most people are unaware that Laois was selected for prioritisation in the arts plan in recognition of the great strides which were made there to develop the arts." The Arts Council had, she said, referred to the dearth of facilities in the midlands for the arts and it was fully behind the project.
A special committee under the chairmanship of Mr Michael Mills, the first Ombudsman and a Laois man, has been set up to help raise the private contributions.
Despite the lack of facilities in the county, Ms Ni Chonaill said there was a great deal of activity in the arts area in Laois and adjoining counties.
"Many national and international artists have based themselves in the midlands and are quietly working away. We have many examples of this," she said. "In addition, the county council and the Arts Council fund many events over the year, including concerts, art exhibitions, youth theatre and street theatre." The greatest difficulty facing arts officers in the region was the lack of a proper theatre in which to stage events. "The provision of the centre in the old jail will address this problem," she concluded.