A proposal to entice film-makers to Waterford is included in an ambitious arts plan for the city adopted by the corporation.
The four-year plan, which will cost £1.8 million to implement, is the result of a consultation process that began in November 1999 when an arts forum was established in the city.
The plan was adopted at Monday night's meeting of Waterford City Council. Considerable financial support from the private sector and the Arts Council will be required if it is to be implemented in full. The plan has twin objectives: the pursuit of artistic excellence and the improvement of lifestyle through making the arts accessible to all.
It also provides an overview of the role of the arts in the life of Waterford today, the facilities available and the extent of current activity.
The lack of a proper rehearsal or workshop space in the city was one of the key deficiencies identified at the public meeting which led to the establishment of the arts forum. This is recognised in the plan which says the feasibility of a multiplex arts building is to be investigated.
Space for performances in the city has been enhanced with the addition of the William Vincent Wallace Plaza, formerly the Millennium Plaza, on Clyde Wharf, which will provide an outdoor stage and seating for 350 in a riverside setting.
Strategies adopted in the plan cover a wide range of artistic disciplines, from architecture to the visual arts. The need to develop film production in the city is one of the areas covered, and the corporation is to support a feasibility study of a "film-makers' production package" which would entice high-profile film producers.
Drama is identified in the plan as an "extremely vibrant" sector of the arts in Waterford, and an annual "mayor's awards" scheme is to be inaugurated.
The plan acknowledges that despite the success of Spraoi, Waterford is not recognised as a festival destination. The corporation is to develop stronger links with national organisations with the intention of integrating the city's festivals into the national calendar.
The Sean Dunne Literary Festival will continue to be the main vehicle for promoting literature. The corporation has commissioned a play on the writer's book, In My Father's House, and further plays are to be commissioned. The formation of a professional opera company in the city is also to be "actively encouraged".
The arts forum, which was central to the plan's preparation, is to remain in place as an independent body and will continue to have a consultative role.