Galway Arthouse Cinema Go

The Irish Times reports today that work will begin in June on Galway's new €4 million arthouse cinema.

The project has been spearheaded by a group called Solas, which represents the Galway Film Society, the Galway Film Fleadh, the Galway Film Centre, and the Galway Arts Centre,

Three cinemas are incorporated in the design – a 176-seater at basement level, a 77-seater on the second floor and a 105-seater on the third floor including 28 seats on the balcony.

The cinemas, equipped for 35mm and digital projection, will screen films of the "widest cultural diversity and will offer programmes that are innovative in form and challenging in content," the city council says.

"Programmes will include Irish-made films, films in the Irish language, European and independent feature films, documentaries, animation, classic films as well as thematic, archival and retrospective cinema. Special emphasis will be given to educational screenings and matinee opportunities for diverse audiences," it says.

The development includes a cafe and a bar area, a book and DVD shop and an online archive link to the National Film Archive and "specialist online cinema resources", the council says.

The project was earmarked in the current city development plan which recognised a "deficit of culture and arts infrastructure in the city". The authority has acquired additional property in the area as part of its "cultural quarter" plans, incorporating the new cinema and the existing city museum.

The architecture blog, Archiseek, has blueprints and mock-ups of the planned structure.