Garter Lane Arts Centre was officially opened by actor Niall Tóibín in 1984 at No. 5 O’Connell Street, Waterford. From its ambitious origins to its landmark fortieth birthday the Arts Centre has been a consistent and welcoming lynchpin in the region’s cultural and arts infrastructure. Now spanning two Georgian buildings in the heart of Waterford City, the centre is a renowned base for culture and creativity across many artistic disciplines. Housing Visual Art Studios, a Sprung Dance Floor, a Children’s Workshop, a fully operational Theatre with state-of-the-Art Cinema facilities, the centre also exhibits in two dedicated Gallery spaces.
The Arts Centre when originally opened comprised of a series of rooms in a disused townhouse (formerly the residence of prominent Quaker Merchant Samuel Barker). The building was previously the city library and even served as a bank. In June of 2024, after a major refurbishment and repurpose project, No. 5 O’Connell officially reopened. This building (No. 5), and the Theatre building (No. 22a) are long synonymous with a multifaceted and exciting arts programme within the city and region, so much so that many people are unaware that the centre also operates a bustling fully programmed second building. While one is a space geared toward creative practise, learning, and professional development projects the other is a space for showing and delivering the fruits of creative endeavour.
Waterford in the early 80’s could be a challenging place to dream big, but a powerful energy was changing societal outlook. The Governmental Arts Act (1973) called upon the Arts Council share purchase of halls and spaces in regional and rural locations with the sole purpose of housing groups and creators of ‘fine arts’. Waterford’s pre-existing arts history made a hugely significant leap into the 21st century with the advent of the Arts For All “movement” in the late 70’s and early 80s. A groundswell of public appreciation of the arts in everyone’s lives, bubbled into a powerful call to action, where local artists and creators aspired to having access to more opportunities to make new impactful art that was accessible for everyone to enjoy and participate in.
The collision of local energy and governmental will, brought Garter Lane Arts Centre into being, as it did in many locations nationwide. Our national arts infrastructure, support, and inevitable outcomes were changed utterly and for the better. From this bedrock, all over the country great things sprang. So many groups, organisations and individuals have had their careers and practices underpinned by, working in, spending even a little time and/or passing through an arts centre.
In Waterford, Garter Lane Arts Centre housed: Citóg, Red Kettle Theatre Co, Spraoi, Waterford Youth Arts, and many others. The Arts Centre at No. 5 O’Connell Street is the home of A Little Room Theatre Development Centre, see alittleroomtdc.com, housing new emergent theatre talent once a month. It’s studios are inhabited by practising visual artists and the centre has been a base for extremely prolific Waterford artists such as Rachel Ní Bhraonáin, Deirdre Dwyer and Katie Honan. It is also the home of Little Red Kettle Children’s Theatre Co and is the base for the hugely impressive Traces Dance Ensemble. The venues are undoubtedly multidisciplinary, and the potential these spaces have is being further unlocked as the centre expands and ‘dreams’ a future, where more artists and creators come together under one roof to lay the foundations of the next steps in our cultural evolution.
Garter Lane is proud to be supported by the Arts Council and Waterford City & County Council.
You can view a longer video exploring our Studio building here.
