Written Answers Nos. 126-131
126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he and his Department might consider the promotion of jointly sponsored cultural events with the US in the course of the current year in a mutually beneficial fashion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4811/13]
View answerI have just appointed an Expert Advisory Committee for my Department's Culture Ireland Programme with representation from the arts and culture community, as well as representation from a range of bodies with a shared interest in Ireland’s international reach, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Tourism Ireland, the IDA and the Ireland Funds. This expanded new committee will ensure that there will be a heightened focus in the promotion of Irish arts abroad, leading not alone to further career opportunities for Irish artists but also to wider benefits of tourism and an enhanced global reputation for Ireland as a centre of creativity and innovation. There are many shared interests around the table who will now be working together to achieve a shared goal.
In 2011, Culture Ireland undertook Imagine Ireland as a special year-long initiative showcasing Irish arts and culture in the US. Throughout the year, more than 1,000 Irish artists were showcased in more than 500 events in more than 40 US States, working in partnership with key US festivals, venues and cultural institutions. The total budget for Imagine Ireland was €5m, of which €1m was from normal Culture Ireland funding and €4m was special once-off funding.
Following on from the success of Imagine Ireland, my Department's Culture Ireland Division has to date funded 51 projects from all art forms to perform in various venues across the United States totalling €424,000. My Department also led our fifth showcase of performing arts in New York as part of the annual conference of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters [APAP]. This included introducing a whole new selection of work by a wide variety of artists, some who are new to New York and some returning with fresh and interesting work. At the moment, confirmation of future bookings for 2013-2014 is awaited as a result of the attendance by Irish artists.
127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which he expects to be in a position to enhance the national image throughout the EU through the medium of the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4812/13]
View answerFrom the Government’s point of view, the EU Presidency is seen as an important opportunity to make a very direct and positive contribution to developments within the EU and to demonstrate our capabilities on the European stage. The Presidency provides the opportunity to fully engage with the EU agenda and to rebuild Ireland’s reputation, both in Europe and internationally. Given our current economic situation, it is also critical that the Presidency is both cost-effective and well-run. It is widely recognised that an efficient Presidency will generate positive short-term benefits, but will also influence longer-term perceptions about the State and promote goodwill towards Ireland.
In addition to the wide-ranging policy agenda that will be addressed during the Presidency, it is the practice for the country holding the Presidency to mount a programme of cultural events. The presentation of a Cultural Programme offers a unique opportunity to project a strong image of Ireland to audiences within the EU and beyond. It also offers a platform to engage with people at home concerning Ireland’s place in the EU and to review, after 40 years of membership, how we see that relationship further developing.
Clearly, given the wealth of our historic cultural engagement with Europe and our contemporary artistic strengths, there are a host of different approaches that could be taken to developing the Programme. In line with the overall approach to Presidency planning, it is critical, however, that the Programme is run as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible, making best uses of the resources available to us, whilst also showcasing the best of Ireland.
Key objectives of Ireland's Culture Programme include the following:
- To showcase the strength and diversity of Irish culture and enhance further Ireland’s reputation for cultural excellence.
- To present a range of Irish events of high quality across a diverse range of art forms to the widest possible audience across the European Union.
- To complement the overall programme for Ireland’s EU Presidency.
- To programme events across three key locations (Brussels/Belgium, Paris, Berlin) and each EU Member State.
- To engage with European institutions and culture networks to allow for professional development of Irish artists and cultural institutions.
- To use the EU Presidency Culture Programme as an opportunity to engage with “third” countries or key territories outside the European Union.
- To achieve maximum visibility and impact for the Irish cultural sector and Ireland, in general, through a communications and promotion strategy.
Ireland's Culture Connects Programme is a wide and varied programme which involves the engagement of Irish artists in Europe and beyond, as well as European artists in Ireland. It is a key element in Ireland's plans to celebrate our Presidency of the EU in the first six months of 2013. For many centuries Ireland has had strong historic cultural connections to Europe and our Presidency offers an opportunity to celebrate and build on those connections. There is a great diversity in the culture of the Member States of the EU but there is also a common thread which runs through our culture and which allows us to understand each other and to work closely together to achieve our wider aims.
Through the many events planned across all Member States, Irish artists will present and highlight the unique quality of Irish culture. It is a culture of which we are proud and which has gained us an international reputation for excellence. This programme includes many high profile artists from Beckett, Bacon and Eileen Gray to Anne Enright, Seán Scully and Altan. Irish artists will present work in all Member States, with a special focus on Brussels, Paris and Berlin. A copy of the programme is available in the Oireachtas Library.
131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he has identified the availability of funding from EU sources for the promotion and development of festivals throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4816/13]
View answerThe EU Culture Programme 2007–2013 is the EU funding programme administered by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) for the European Commission. It was established to enhance the cultural area shared by Europeans, which is based on a common cultural heritage through the development of cooperation activities among cultural operators from 37 eligible countries. Applications can be made to the various strands of this programme for support for pan-European non-national cultural activities.
The EU Culture Programme introduced a dedicated festivals fund called Strand 1.3.6, Support for European Cultural Festivals in 2010. This strand offered funding towards the non-national European programme costs of the successful festivals. West Cork Chamber Music Festival received funding totalling €300,000 for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 editions of the festival. Cork Midsummer Festival received funding totalling €200,000 for the 2011 and 2012 editions of their festival.
Festivals are also eligible to apply for project funding under Strand 1, co-operation projects. This strand requires a European partnership (with a minimum of between 3 -6 partners) and applicants must demonstrate that their projects achieve common goals beyond national borders. Costs related to marketing and promotion can be included as a line in the project budget. Irish festivals which have received support under this strand include: Babaro International Children’s Festival (2008); St Patrick’s Festival (2010); Dublin Dance Festival (2010); and Ulster Bank Theatre Festival (2011). It should be noted that current indications are that the dedicated festival strand will not be continued under the upcoming Creative Europe Programme 2014-2020 (the successor to the Culture Programme).
