Visual is enjoying a post-Covid boom as theatre bar enjoys its busiest year yet

VISUAL has seen an increased in demand for all facets of its offerings over the first half of 2024, with audiences increased to pre-Covid levels and its bar experiencing its busiest year to date.

Visual CEO and artistic director Emma Lucy O’Brien and finance and operations manager Niall Scully attended the September meeting of Carlow County Council to summarise all of its operations, including its upcoming programme and financial outlook.

Ms O’Brien stated that 2024 has seen increased demand for the experiences, workshops, tours and special projects being delivered through the Visual learning programme. Partnerships and projects with the various community groups and other agencies continue to develop, while the George Bernard Theatre programme is maintaining audience levels and has increased its offering year on year post-Covid. Ms O’Brien stated that the theatre’s bar has had its busiest year to date, while Visual’s autumn/winter programme is already selling well.

“With Carlow County Council’s continued financial support and belief in the project, we have been able to maintain and enhance Visual’s financial capacity and return audiences to pre-Covid levels,” said Ms O’Brien. “Visual is now 15 years’ old and an excellent example of local authority investment in communities, creativity and the arts,” she added.

To date in 2024, 88 events have taken place in the theatre,14,914 people have attended the theatre with a net revenue for the theatre of €77,000. Ms O’Brien outlined some of the upcoming events at Visual and also the local projects and artists it supports.

She also outlined that retrofitting is required in the building, in line with the council’s climate action mandate. This included a heating solution for the building “as that current fossil fuel heating boilers are non-operational”.

Mr Scully outlined the financial summary of the arts centre with income less expenditure forecasting a shortfall of €585,203, which following the council’s subvention of €650,000 and an energy grant projects that will see Visual in profit by €67,180 in 2024.

Cathaoirleach cllr Fergal Browne remarked that members had only see “a fraction” of all the activity that goes on at Visual, adding that it was “great to see Visual get financially back on track” following the pandemic.

Cllr Fintan Phelan welcomed the effort being made at Visual, adding that not every county has such a facility. He encouraged more focus on the theatre side of the centre, which would allow for greater public engagement and financial income.

Cllr Andrea Dalton and other members called for greater national funding, adding that the gallery space at Visual remains the largest in the country.

Cllr Jim Deane asked if Visual had gone down the route of attracting sponsors. “Subventions and grants are all very well, but it can lead to instability and I’d be worried about that,” he said.

Cllr Paul Doogue also expressed concern about the capital costs needed, including the heating system replacement. While he acknowledged Visual as a great facility, he questioned the annual €650,000 subvention and asked that the centre continues to seek other sources of funding.

Ms O’Brien stated that Visual would “not be functioning” without the €650,00 contribution from the council, particular given the increase costs in the sector. She stated that every arts centre in the country is “under pressure”, but assured members that Visual would continue to actively seek sources of funding.