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Arts Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2013

Thursday, 25 April 2013

Questions (19, 36, 44, 49, 132, 138)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

19. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will publish the report of the working group set up to explore fund-raising opportunities following on from the commitment given in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19365/13]

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Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

36. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made in the implementation of the forum on philanthropy report's recommendations within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19272/13]

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Sandra McLellan

Question:

44. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on whether considering the size of the Irish market and the downturn in the economy the focus solely on philanthropy as a source of funding for the arts is realistic and his further views on whether a broad acknowledgement of multiple sources of public and private investment is vital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19363/13]

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Seán Crowe

Question:

49. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the commitment given in the programme for Government to work with stakeholders in the arts community to develop proposals aimed at building support of the arts if he will provide a detailed account of the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19364/13]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which his Department or its subsidiary bodies have attracted private funding for the arts directly or by way of sponsorship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19705/13]

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Catherine Murphy

Question:

138. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will outline his proposals to facilitate greater philanthropic funding of the arts and heritage here; if he has discussed any proposals with the Department of Finance to allow for taxation incentives for donations which may help bridge funding gaps in such areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19543/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 36, 44, 49, 132 and 138 together.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to "work with stakeholders in the Arts community to develop new proposals aimed at building private support of the Arts in Ireland exploring philanthropic, sponsorship or endowment fund opportunities". To further this objective, in May 2012 I announced the introduction of a new philanthropic initiative on a pilot basis for arts and culture organisations. The initiative - the Philanthropic Leverage Initiative - was designed to encourage philanthropic sponsorship and endowment of the arts from private sources. The initiative, established with funding of €230,000 for 2012, has provided an incentive to arts organisations to proactively seek new funding relationships with sponsors which deliver private sector financial support, thereby increasing overall funding available to the arts. The initiative was available across projects of varying scale, geography and art forms to not-for-profit organisations for arts programming projects.

The organisations approved for funding under the initiative were required to procure matching philanthropic funds and complete their drawdown from my Department in 2012. Matched funding could come from public funds or from any public sector organisation. At the outset, it was anticipated that a multiple of 2.5 on the pilot initiative funds of €230,000 would result in philanthropic funding of some €800,000 being raised for the arts. The scheme proved very successful with private sector philanthropic donations €4.26 being leveraged for every €1 of public funds. I recently launched a similar initiative for 2013. Full details including application forms are available on my Department's website.

The Philanthropic Leverage Initiative was run in parallel with a second initiative - the Arts Council's RAISE: Building Fundraising Capacity pilot initiative. That initiative will provide one-to-one professional support to eight selected organisations for two years through planning and implementing a tailored fundraising programme. This will help those art organisations build and resource their capacity to attract philanthropic giving. In developing this complementary programme, the Arts Council has identified that it is vital for art groups to develop, agree and implement an effective fundraising strategy and to properly resource that fundraising function.

My Department has also provided support to the Business to Arts organisation for a number of years and, in each of the last three years, this has been allocated to delivery of the New Stream Programme, which builds fundraising skills in the cultural sector in Ireland. The Bank of America Merrill Lynch investment in this project is €400k over three years. In 2010, my Department also awarded a €20,000 grant to Business to Arts for ‘Fund it’ in 2010 under the Cultural Technology Grants Scheme. Business to Arts initially matched this figure with private funding and since then has attracted additional foundation funds to this project.

There is not now nor has there been any intention that philanthropy could become the sole source of funding for the arts. The allocation to the National Gallery in 2013 is €7.677m. The allocation by my Department to the other National Cultural Institutions is €30.629m.

The State appreciates and values the contribution the arts sector makes to the internationally renowned artistic reputation of this country. As Minister with responsibility for the arts, I believe that, within the current economic constraints, investment in the arts, culture and creative sectors is more important than ever, having regard to the employment intensity and potential of the sector. The arts are a significant contributor and employer in their own right and they are also important building blocks for those economic policies the Government has identified as crucial for our economic recovery.

Government policy on the arts is set out in the Programme for Government. As Minister responsible for the arts and culture sectors, I am committed to securing the best possible funding provision for them during my term in office. Government policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life, and maximise the potential for cultural tourism. Primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council, which, under the Arts Acts, is independent in its funding decisions. In 2013, the Arts Council will receive an allocation of €60.7 million in current, capital and EU Presidency funding. The allocation to the Irish Film Board is €14.858m.

The Government appreciates the importance of the arts, culture and the creative industries to both our society and our economy. I am fully aware of the challenges for those involved in the arts and culture sectors and of the tremendous work they are doing I am committed to supporting the essential elements of the arts. I will consider publication of the report of the Informal Working Group.

Question No. 20 answered with Question No. 14.
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