Minister to open Custom House

Minister to open renovation of Westport Custom House Studios


Anton McNulty

THE newly-refurbished Custom House Studios at Westport Quay will be officially opened this Saturday, April 4, by the Minister of State with responsibility for Arts and the Office of Public Works, Dr Martin Mansergh TD.
The refurbishment of the new building took six months to complete and included the extension to the rear of the existing facility which provides additional exhibition space. While the renovation work was under way, the studio was located in the industrial estate on the Newport Road. The Manager of the Custom House Studios, John McHugh, explained to The Mayo News that the €325,000 extension would provide better facilities for artists and their exhibitions.
“The extension at the rear of the building allows extra exhibition and office space. The extension means that the office and the toilets will be moved upstairs and this opens up the extra exhibition space downstairs. Before, we had a limited space for exhibitions but this will improve things greatly,” he said.
Custom House Studios was established at The Quay in Westport through a partnership  involving the Artists’ Group in Westport, Mayo County Council, Westport Town Council the Department of Arts, and the Westport community. Originally opened in 2002, it now houses seven studios, a printmaking workshop and a gallery space, providing studio and exhibition space for artists, as well as access for the local community and visitors to artistic events.
The new extension was funded by the Department of the Environment’s Social and Community Facilities Capital Scheme, Mayo County Council and through the Council’s Social and Economic Fund. Cllr Margaret Adams, who is the Chairperson of the Custom House Studios, said she was delighted to see the improvements to the building, which she said was a great asset to Westport Quay. She thanked all who were involved in the work on the renovation and thanked the OPW for allowing them to preserve and lease the building.
To coincide with the official opening, Dr Mansergh will open an exhibition of new work by Westport artist Breda Burns – ‘360Ëš of the Reek’. The exhibition will be on display until May 9, and a new exhibition will take place every month.