Bernard J. Durkan
Question:119 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the programmes he proposes in 2004 to promote the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31874/03]
Written Answers. - Arts Council.
Government support for the promotion and development of the arts is channelled in the main through the Arts Council, which will receive funding of €52.5 million in 2004, an increase of some 19% on the 2003 figure. The Arts Council, of course, operates independently of Government in the context of its own funding decisions.
Programmes run directly by my Department in 2004 will include: the ACCESS scheme, which will, during the life of the scheme, provide capital grants of €45.71 million to 44 projects around the country, which will greatly increase the access of ordinary people and communities to arts facilities and activities; my Department is leading the organisation of the cultural programme that will be run in conjunction with Ireland's forthcoming EU Presidency, and major festivals of Irish art and culture in China, and of Chinese art and culture in Ireland for which a provision of €6 million has been made in the Estimate for 2004; my Department is chairing an Interdepartmental Committee on Public Art, which will, early in 2004, issue guidelines for the operation of the "per cent for art" scheme that is so important to artists all around the country; under the provisions of the Arts Act 2003, I have arranged for the establishment of a special committee to advise the Arts Council on the Traditional Arts, an area that I see as being of critical importance to the artistic and cultural life of the nation; I will shortly receive an independent analysis of my Department's policy in the area of international arts, which will form the basis for a full review in 2004 of policy in this area.
Questions Nos. 120 and 121 answered with Question No. 14.