Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Tue 09 Sep 2006Cultivating a cultural docklandA goal of Dublin's Docklands is that well-funded cultural activity will foster a sense of community. Is this likely to work, asks Brian O'ConnellThere's something about walking through Dublin Docklands that lends itself to flashbacks from The Truman Show. Somewhere in the midst of the carefully planned piazzas, express barbers and lunchtime laundry services, it's easy to picture Truman Burbank falling to his knees goading the CCTV gods - "Somebody help me, I'm being spontaneous!" Maybe it's the intricate planning, artistically austere playgrounds, or delicately designed gardens that create an atmosphere of predictability. Yet all that may be about to change.