The cinema at Tipperary town’s Excel Arts and Heritage centre is not expected to re-open until at least September. All three of the Cinema’s screens have been out of action since June 15th – a system upgrade was expected to be completed by June 30th.
Chairperson of the Excel Board, Elaine Fitzpatrick says the Board are working on a number of strands of action and would like to share their options and plans when these are more fully developed.
These actions include the examination of technical solutions for replacing the cinema equipment, an energy audit for the building with a view to upgrading the heating system, meeting with stakeholders that currently use the centre, staff undergoing technical training and the need for future fundraising to upgrade lighting and sound systems in the Simon Ryan Theatre.
The Board says the Excel is open, the Youth Theatre Show “Back to the 80s” is taking place over 4 nights next week, the Aleen Cust Exhibition will be on display during Heritage Week, plans are in place for Art Exhibitions in the Autumn and that at present deep cleaning of seats and carpets is underway.
The Board also says it will be looking for ways for more people in the community to volunteer to get involved at the Excel in the future.
The current Excel Board members are Elaine Fitzpatrick, John Lonergan, Jim Keane, Jeanne Dowling, Jimmy Mulcahy, Val O’Connor and Dermot O’Dwyer.
