Laois is witnessing a surge in interest in music and the arts with the help of a dedicated arts development plan overseen by the county council.
The Arts in Laois Development Plan 2001-2003 was launched last week by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, although it has been operating successfully throughout the year.
According to county arts officer Ms Muireann N∅ Chonaill, Laois is the first county to enter into a so-called multi-annual funding arrangement with the Arts Council. The arts programme is being funded jointly by the Arts Council and Laois County Council, at a total cost of £160,000. There has also been valuable backing from the VEC.
The programme aims to improve accessibility to the arts, with a particular focus on young people, the elderly and people with disabilities.
A music school envisaged as part of the arts plan is up and running, with over 300 students enrolled for classes and a waiting list of that number again. The classes take place Monday to Saturday in St Paul's National School, Borris Road, with 14 teachers giving lessons in singing, harp, piano, guitar and other instruments.
"I was not surprised at its success," says Ms N∅ Chonaill. "I knew it was going to be a winner." The school, she hopes, will eventually stand on its own having benefited from the initial programme funding.
"The whole thing about an arts strategy is that you should set it up and move it on. I want to see the Department of Education take this over," she says of the music school.
Auditions will shortly take place for new county choirs, another initiative under the arts programme.
Infrastructure for the arts will also be developed and the issue of providing studio space for artists and organisations will be examined.
Ms N∅ Chonaill doesn't rule out a dedicated premises for the music school in the future, although this isn't covered in the current funding. "We have had great support from the VEC and we will be making an application for extra assistance in the new year."
Under the three-year plan, the council will support interdisciplinary networking by artists to help identify and address common issues and needs. It will also evaluate what opportunities exist for artists to work together and to interact in a creative environment.
There will be continued support under the scheme for the visual arts, with exhibitions by local and visiting artists and national touring shows.
"We want to focus on increasing public access, especially to get young people, older people and people with disabilities to participate," Ms N∅ Chonaill says.