'A unique opportunity'- Old Savoy Cinema in Portarlington may become an Arts Centre

Port Art Collective have carried out a  feasibility study on the old Savoy Cinema in Portarlington, regarding the potential development of an Arts centre. 

Chairperson Mark Garvin has said that the Old Savoy Cinema presents a unique opportunity.

“It’s not that we are looking to open an arts centre and eventually build up groups- Portarlington has the groups, we just want to give them a home,” said Mark.

“This is a unique opportunity to give a new lease of life to a building with deep ties in our community. The building itself is beautiful and is perfectly situated.”

The plan would see the transformation of the old cinema into an ambitious three-floored arts centre. 

Photo- The Old Savoy Cinema Portarlington- mural by ADW, 2019. Courtesy of Port Arts Collective.

The proposed arts centre would have studios, performance spaces and craft rooms for creatives. 

“It would be similar to the Dunamaise theatre, but we would like the cinema to have more of an emphasis on education,” said Mark.

The Port Arts Collective was first established in 2021, and now has over 100 members across a range of artistic subgroups. The collective has won awards for their role in emphasising the culture, heritage and talent in Portarlington. The Port Sounds team have been putting on monthly open-mic nights in the Anvil and recently held the 3rd edition of 'Laois Aloud', which allows local bands to play a festival of their own music.

The Savoy Cinema in Portarlington first opened by 1945 and was listed in the Kinematograph Year Books from 1950 to 1962.

The cinema closed in 1989, and was subsequently taken over by a new operator and re-opened 3rd August 1990. 

It closed its doors for the final time in the mid 1990's.