Under the apple trees

THE new Tallaght Community Arts Centre, (TCAC), opened at the weekend after a gestation period that threatened to ripen pinto old age.

Since 1983, the 19th century, farmhouse, called Virginia House, has been earmarked as an arts centre library project, then a leisure centre and part of a technical college until it won final County Council approval as an arts centre in 1987.

The main house and outbuildings have been refurbished to accommodate artists' studio spaces, a community workshop, a home for an artist in residence and a coffee shop. The original, rambling farmhouse atmosphere has been conserved, the garden's apple trees still bloom, while a rusty plough and a sculpture made from cartwheel rims recall bygone days. Its location beside The Square shopping complex ensures maximum accessibility.

The Tallaght area is a sprawling set of housing estates and windswept prairie land, bleak and beautiful, the third biggest centre of population in the state, with 80,000 people. Unemployment runs to 80 per cent on some housing estates, while drug dealing has led to a 24 hour community watch in certain areas to clear out dealers.

Drug pushers throw packets of heroin through the letter boxes of young addicts on methadone, while a recent report of a nine year old junkie added to the perception of the area as a lost cause.

The lack of prospects for Tallaght's many of huge youth population leads to great expectations for any community arts initiative.

The 1992 Dublin Arts Report examined the strengths, weaknesses and future prospects of Dublin City and County arts initiatives, urging progress on a Tallaght arts centre, "once every effort is made to involve the existing arts interests of the town and its wider community."

"To physically have a centre in Tallaght is extremely important," comments Ana Lee, manager of the Tallaght Partnership, which co ordinates dozens of community organisations in the area. "Its success and relevance depends on how it is run and managed, the skills and abilities applied to keep it open, accessible and participatory."

The direction, vision and success of the TCAC will depend largely on the energy and initiative of Mary Grehan, appointed last year as director of the centre. Aged 29, she is not from Tallaght and got the job by open competition. She studied ceramics in NCAD, completed the post graduate Arts Administration course in UCD, worked in the Arts Council, then passed through the Crawford gallery before taking charge of the Holles Street arts programme which grew into the Siolru art exhibition in the RHA Gallagher gallery.

At a personal level, Grehan sees artistic expression as a way of meditating and relaxing, a means for pursuing social change and expressing discontent.

As the opening day approached, she and her staff had taken the consultation issue to heart and had established a six month plan after making contact with 350 organisations working in the area. The centre was launched with a performance by the local Tallafornia Mandolin Band. The Tallaght on the Edge festival, which ran all weekend, featured "On their own", an exhibition of four large mobile paintings produced by young people on the Summer Breakaway scheme and a performance by local youth drama group, The Specialists, mandated to "blow away the cultural elite" (see panel).

The artwork "explores the lines of definition between professional and community art," a goal at the centre of the TCAC's plans. "We want to encourage greater participation in the arts, consolidate existing arts activities and also develop and support the work of local artists," says Grehan.

Even before the centre formally opened a Youthstart workshop had begun where 15 youths, aged 16-21, learned photography and puppetry under the guidance of professionals.

INSIDE converted cowsheds, two artists are using the studio rental space, which will accommodate up to nine artists for a period of six months to a year.

Priority is given to local artists, but it will not be exclusive. "We intend to provide a window on artists from other places," says Grehan.

Last week the FAS trained construction workers contemplated the finishing touches to phase one of the farmhouse renovation which cost £240,000. Further funding will be required if phase two - the construction of a permanent exhibition and performance space - is to be undertaken.

Just weeks ago, £1.1 million of EU Cultural Incentive Funds were approved for the building of a separate theatre in grounds close to the Tallaght community arts centre, a huge boost for local performance prospects.

The community arts centre has prepared drama and visual arts workshops as "packages" for summer projects and Grehan is working with Home School Liaison Units to devise workshops for potential early school leavers.

There is also the "Artist in the community initiative", with Seamus Moran, a six month creative scheme with unemployed men and women, beginning in August.

The centre has contacted insurance companies and established a scheme whereby individuals and small groups can purchase affordable public liability insurance, often an insurmountable obstacle, for individuals trying to exhibit.

But is it enough, the flurry of activity? Does this arts centre really answer the community arts needs of the people of Tallaght? Is it in tune with the needs of local arts groups - such as Tallaght's Alternative Entertainments, a community arts group with an emphasis on music. This group now has a 24 track studio and a solid reputation after 10 years' work, drawing hundreds of local people into their activities, from mandolin classes to shipbuilding and photography.

Mary Grehan points to the extensive consultation carried out in the area, the broad based 14 member board of directors and the ongoing liaison with schools, FAS, youth centres and public libraries.

Ana Lee of Tallaght Partnership counters, however: "Unless you can invest in a staff member to act as an unattached youth worker who walks the streets, you can't reach everybody."