IFI Announces Major Expansion and Redevelopment
The Irish Film Institute have announced a major redevelopment of its Old Quaker Meeting House premises on Eustace Street in Temple Bar. Plans have been unveiled to create a third cinema in addition to the existing two cinema screens, a major overhaul of the existing public areas, and significant development of the IFI’s Irish Film Archive allowing better access to the archive’s collection for the IFI’s audience, film researchers and students.
Speaking of the redevelopment Sarah Glennie, Director of the IFI, said: ‘This cinema expansion and redevelopment marks an exciting point in the IFI’s history. Since opening in 1992 the IFI has brought the best of film culture to audiences in Ireland and this development will allow to us to broaden the scope and depth of our programme as well as introducing new audiences to the IFI’s Irish Film Archive which is one of Ireland’s most important cultural resources.’
The new sixty-seat Cinema 3 will be fully equipped with the latest digital projection technology and will also be equipped to screen films in 16 mm and a range of other formats, allowing better access to material from the Irish Film Archive and emerging Irish filmmakers. Additionally, the public areas of the IFI will be renovated and modernised with brand new washroom facilities, film shop, and improved box office and information provision. The interiors of the bar/restaurant area will also be modified.
Work will commence at the beginning of July and are expected to be completed by the end of October 2009. Throughout this period, the two IFI screens will remain open during the evening and weekends in order to minimise disruption to patrons and members. Once completed, the development will provide full disabled access to all cinemas and public areas. However during the development period disabled lift access to Cinema 2 will be regrettably suspended.
The redevelopment is part-funded by the Access II scheme, an initiative of the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism, that was announced in March 2007. Regular updates about the development will be available on the IFI website on www.ifi.ie.
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Mon, Jun 8, 2009
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