16 Apr 2012, 11:58
Representatives from the Arts Council and the National Campaign for Arts will attend the the meeting of the Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht tomorrow as it resumes its hearings on utilising the Arts to combat disadvantage and to encourage their greater integration and social inclusion within local communities.
The Arts Council of Ireland is the Irish government agency for developing the arts. It works in partnership with artists, arts organisations, public policy makers and others to build a central place for the arts in Irish life.
The National Campaign for the Arts was established in September 2009. Its membership is a broad and inclusive coalition of people and organisations working in the arts, which includes major festivals, venues, producers and representative organisations in visual arts, theatre, film, dance, music, literature, architecture and collaborative arts.
Committee chair Ciaran Lynch, TD said: “We are looking forward to our meeting tomorrow with representatives from the Arts Council and the National Campaign for Arts to discuss how the arts can be utilised to encourage greater integration and combat disadvantage within local communities.
We have a rich tradition of arts in this country and it is heartening to see many groups throughout the country undertaking initiatives to make the arts more accessible and to encourage participation in arts programmes.
Cultural, creative and arts groups and community organisations have always been an important part of Irish life, providing a sense of identity and being part of the community and we are delighted that so many are involved in programmes to encourage greater participation in the arts in their areas.”
Tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to hear presentations on the work the Arts Council and the National Campaign for Arts are undertaking to promote arts and culture throughout the country and the initiatives they are promoting to use artistic activities to engage with local communities and encourage greater integration and combat disadvantage.
This meeting will take place on Tuesday, 17th April, in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000 at 2.15pm.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Deputies:
Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party (Chairman)
Noel Coonan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Paudie Coffey, Fine Gael
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael
Tony McLoughlin, Fine Gael
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Kevin Humphreys, Labour Party
Gerald Nash, Labour Party
Seán Kenny, Labour Party
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil
Sandra McLellan, Sinn Féin
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Socialist Party
Catherine Murphy, Independent
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent
Senators:
Cáit Keane, Fine Gael
Catherine Noone, Fine Gael
Labhrás Ó’Murchú, Fianna Fáil
Ned O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil
Fiach Mac Conghail, Independent