asked the Taoiseach the plans he has to bring art closer to the community and, in particular, to young people.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Development of the Arts.
2.
The Arts Council, An Chomhairle Ealaíon, who are an independent statutory organisation, operate under the aegis of my Department. The council are committed to a policy of developing arts centres in significant locations of population so as to provide local communities with access to the professional arts and with the opportunity of participating in the community activities of these arts centres. There are major arts centres in Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick as well as performance venues in Sligo, Tralee, Galway and Cork. These are in addition to the arts centres existing in Dublin and those which are planned for a number of locations around the country, including the midlands, and for a number of the satellite towns which have grown up in the greater Dublin area.
In the course of his Budget Statement delivered to the House on 29 January 1986 the Minister for Finance announced that he would provide a special grant of £100,000 to the Arts Council to enable them to match the very generous assistance of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation to the Arts Community Education Project (ACE). The aim of that project is to foster the experience of the arts as part of everyday life at work, in school or on the street.
The National Gallery of Ireland, which also operates under the aegis of my Department, has imaginative and wideranging activities to bring art closer to the community and, in particular, to young people. Those activities include special exhibitions, publications, educational tours of the gallery, seminars, in-service courses for primary teachers, poster competitions for children and travelling exhibitions.
Under the social employment and teamwork schemes, which operate under the Department of Labour, projects to promote cultural pursuits have to date been allocated grant-aid in excess of £1 million. Work undertaken in that context covers a wide range of projects from the employment of unemployed musicians to form an orchestra performing for the general public and theatrical productions to the provision of a workshop for promising young writers and the establishment of social and cultural centres geared towards young people.
Arising out of the Minister's detailed reply, do his Department see themselves as a major catalyst in the area of encouraging arts in the community, particularly among young people and would he see an outlet through, perhaps, summer projects which would make art in the community among young people a possible replacement for violence which is being used as an outlet by some young people, particularly in deprived areas and those of high unemployment?
It has been a central ambition of mine, and one of my aims in the area of visual arts, music, theatre and literature, to ensure that all members of the community — indeed all artists also — irrespective of their geographical location and social status — have access to the arts. I have given a number of examples of how this is being brought about. As far as young people are concerned, there are also a number of umbrella organisations such as the National Association of Youth Drama, the Irish Youth Orchestra, the Irish Youth Jazz Orchestra and a number of others. The whole intention is to develop the interest and ability of young people in these areas. We are also very pleased with the discussion paper arising from the working party of the Curriculum and Examinations Board.
Is the Vote for the Minister's Department with regard to the Arts Council up or down on last year? If so, by how much?
We dealt with the financing of the Arts Council——
The overall Vote.
——and my Department two weeks ago. The Vote for the Arts Council is marginally up — 4 per cent — on last year, and 1 per cent on the outturn of last year, but it will be affected by the various changes made in the Vote for remuneration. It has kept pace with inflation, but no more than that.
Would the Minister examine the possibility, particularly in Dublin, of involving the summer projects, particularly in the areas of high unemployment, with regard to art in the community, so that this might become a replacement for some violence resulting from problems among young people in these areas? Would he specifically see if he can use the summer projects to this end?
I will have a look at it. I wish to pay tribute to the Department of Labour for their Teamwork and the social employment schemes under which £1 million was made available last year for a whole variety of projects throughout the community.
What portion of the Art Council's funding is used for community art? Has that been increased in the current year?
I do not have a breakdown of the figures, but a substantial sum was made available from the Funds of Suitors, particularly for art centres. I will be looking for a substantial allocation of the funds from the National Lottery for the arts. Among the items I have in mind for submission to the Government are the provision of art centres and bringing access to the arts to all members of the community.