Vol. 452 No. 1
24 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the proposals, if any, he has to increase arts linkages between the Republic and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7714/95]
I am happy to assure the Deputy that I place a particular emphasis on the need to increase arts linkages between the North and South of this island. It was in recognition of this that I met the Northern Ireland Arts Minister, Michael Ancram MP, on 3 December 1993, with the express objective of stepping up North-South co-operation in the arts. The outcome of that meeting was an agreement to establish a joint committee of the two Arts Councils on the island to explore and develop a variety of further cross-border initiatives, with particular emphasis on the involvement of youth. A new director's forum was also established to facilitate cross-Border co-operation between museums. Both these fora are now in operation.
My meeting with Minister Ancram also gave recognition to the considerable linkages which have already been achieved between North and South in the arts and cultural areas and urged their continued development. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the two Arts Councils on the island propose to jointly appoint an arts co-operation officer with the brief of initiating, broadening and encouraging collaboration in all forms of arts activities with particular emphasis on cross-Border touring and exchanges. This post was recently advertised in the press and should be filled shortly.
In addition, there will also be a significant involvement from the North of Ireland in the "L'Imaginaire Irlandais" project, which will involve a wide range of contemporary artistic and cultural events taking place in France from April-August 1996. In fact, five of the 17 artists to be featured in the core visual arts exhibition in Paris next year are from the North.
