Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2013
22. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will commission a programme of research to identify practical policy goals in relation to the arts as suggested by the national campaign for the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19367/13]
View answer26. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will commission a longitudinal study into the arts and the lives of individuals here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19368/13]
View answer47. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will take steps to ensure that there is annual profiling of the funded arts sector and better use of existing and collected data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19369/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 26 and 47 together.
Government policy on the arts, which is set out in the Programme for Government , is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life, and maximise the potential for cultural tourism and job creation in this sector. Primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. In 2013, the Arts Council will receive an allocation from my Department of some €60.7 million in current, capital and EU Presidency funding.
The Arts Council’s core functions under the Arts Act 2003 are to
- stimulate public interest in the arts;
- promote knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts;
- assist in improving standards in the arts; and
- advise the Minister and other public bodies on the arts.
The Council achieves this by
- providing financial assistance, mainly, but not exclusively, to artists and arts organisations; we also support others who develop and promote the arts;
- offering advice and information on the arts to Government and to others;
- publishing research and information as an advocate for the arts and artists; and undertaking a range of projects to promote and develop the arts, often in partnership with others.
The overview of the Arts Council’s strategic approach to supporting the arts is contained in the policy document 'Developing the Arts in Ireland: Arts Council strategic overview 2011-2013. This document outlines the Arts Council's remit from Government and, building on the Council's professional expertise and knowledge in the arts, seeks to focus that expertise on the key opportunities and challenges for the arts into the future. The Arts Council’s strategic approach has a dual focus on supporting artists and arts organisations and on seeking to increase public engagement and participation in the arts. The Council continues to conduct research into arts practice and participation and this research will inform the Council's strategic plans and its advice to me, as Minister. Full details of research papers are published on the website of the Arts Council at www.artscouncil.ie.
In making funding decisions, the Arts Council will have particular regard for value for money and sustainability, whether applied to a particular organisation, to a strand of work within an area of practice, or to a whole arts area. Value for money is determined according to a range of indicators. Some of these, such as audience numbers or the financial health of an organisation, lend themselves to relatively easy measurement. Others, such as quality of artistic direction or the significance of an organisation for provision in a particular art form, are no less important for being less amenable to measurement. In this way artists and arts organisations are profiled on an ongoing basis by the Arts Council. I have no plans at present to commission a longitudinal study as referred to.
