Phizzfest: turning recession-hit office space into a lively art venue

The Phibsborough Local Area Plan may be gathering dust on the shelf, but next month, many of those empty buildings and offices that were due a makeover will be attracting admiring attention of a different kind. And it's all down to the people behind Phizzfest.
That this perennially overlooked – in terms of regeneration – north inner-city district is getting its own community arts festival comes as a rather pleasant surprise to Dublin 7 natives. But in fact, the organising of it is all down to locals themselves, a high proportion of whom are artists, photographers, writers, singers and actors who've finally said to themselves, "New York? Edinburgh? Galway? Why not Phibsborough?"
"A lot of people don't know the real Phibsborough," says Marian Fitzpatrick, one the organisers. "In one way, its close proximity to the city centre has worked unfavourably in terms of high rents, and high volumes of traffic passing through. But you could say the same about Ranelagh. And you don't get anything like the diversity of cultures anywhere else in the city, nor the impressive mix of those with a connection to the arts.
"One of the aims of this first festival is to provide access to buildings not usually open to the public. We've brought together many of the local businesses and it's really encouraging how everyone is so enthusiastic. Our title sponsor is Croke Park, who were impressed that we took this initiative without any funding to start with, but with the aim of creating something to benefit Phibsborough."
It sounds like a very positive response to the recession to transform offices and stores that have closed into huge public arts spaces and venues for a variety of events. From 4 September, the somewhat Stalinesque block about the shopping centre, known locally as the Tower, will house an art exhibition on the vacant third floor; another exhibition will be held in the un-used offices of an insurance company which once employed a staff of 85. Even a local estate agent, with more empty space on its walls than it would probably prefer in this crashed property market, will exhibit a collection of fine prints from the nearby Graphic Studio.
Chairperson of the festival Tina Robinson says many of the 52 events – the majority of which are free – will take place in buildings showcasing the district's architectural heritage . "There will be public tours of the King's Inns which includes the Gandon-designed dining hall – reputedly the only early Georgian interior remaining fully intact in the city. The Vincentian library at the landmark St Peter's Church will be the location for a talk on figures of historical importance from the area, while the church itself will include a choral evening with the Palestrina Choir."
Phibsborough has it all then, not least if we are talking about emergency services. But the screech of sirens will be somewhat tempered around Doyle's Corner during the festival by the sound of music and theatrical prose. The Mater Hospital Pillar Room will host a number of plays; historic pub the Hut will put on an opera recital; and the the local fire station will even throw open its doors. This is an all-encompassing festival, and obviously the fact that Phibsborough also houses the country's only purpose-built, all-female prison means it too is rightfully included as a venue – although audiences don't actually have to go to prison. "The women in the Dóchas Centre will perform their version of the play Don Christobel, which will be filmed and then screened for the public at the Tower," explains Fitzpatrick.
Well-known Dublin 7 residents, current and former, are prominently involved with the festival. Robert Ballagh will open the Visual Arts trail on 4 September; when the festival gets fully underway the following weekend, Booker prize-winning writer Anne Enright will read from her work and take part in a discussion with the audience at the Mater on Friday 10 September. There's comedy from the deadpan Kevin McAleer, music from classical to rock, and also a talk on the Dublin 7 new wave scene of the late 1970s (and just for the incredulous – the Ramones played the old State Cinema in 1977 and the Cabra Cinema in 1980), tellingly titled 'Punks or Poseurs'.
The cinemas may have given way since to selling carpets and hosting bingo, but the Phizzfest organisers have picked a good year to kickstart what they hope will now be an annual event. Local sponsor McGowan's pub is celebrating 60 years in business, Bohemians Football Club has its 125th anniversary, and the Graphic Studio is now 50, while the festival will tie in with Waterways Ireland's opening of the link from the Royal Canal to the Shannon.
As luck would have it, now that the events are confirmed and the brochures printed, further interested parties are coming forward. "It looks like we are going to have a fringe along with the official listings," says a delighted Tina Robinson.
Phibsborough, hotbed of artistic activity – who would have believed it?

Phizzfest takes place from 9 to 12 September; more details at Phizzfest.ie