Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013
398. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to develop and expand the arts and education charter to include non formal education such as youth arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36414/13]
View answer409. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department is planning any initiative to engage more young persons in the arts; if his Department has considerd any programme to encourage youth participation in the arts during transition year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36474/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 409 together.
In January last the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, TD, and I jointly launched the Arts in Education Charter. This Charter places new responsibilities on Government Departments, agencies, cultural institutions and arts organisations in terms of providing and promoting arts education to children and young people.
This Charter has been agreed by both Ministers. Minister Quinn and I believe passionately in arts education and want to see a joined-up Government approach across Departments, education agencies and arts organisations. The charter will see organisations like the Arts Council, the National Cultural Institutions, the Colleges of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment working with both Departments in order to bring the arts into the classroom and learners into the institutes for the arts.
A High Level Implementation Group was established to oversee the implementation of the Art in Education Charter earlier in the year and it will report twice a year.
The Implementation Group is chaired by Professor John Coolahan, Professor Emeritus, NUI Maynooth. It membership includes Orlaith McBride, Director of the Arts Council, Mary Nunan, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Alan Wall Director, Department of Education and Skills and Niall O Donnchú, Assistant Secretary, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The Group has met on a number of occasions and has been proactive in meeting organisations from both the arts and education sectors. Progress is being made on a number of initiatives including developing a website / portal as a key communications and information channel for both the education and arts sectors. Suitable models for Art Rich Schools and for artists become involved in the programme are also being examined by the Arts Council and this Group.
There is no specific funding provision in my Department's Vote for arts in education this year. However, the Deputies may be aware that in May 2012 I announced the introduction of a new philanthropic initiative on a pilot basis for arts and culture organisations.
This year, €210,000 will be available to arts organisations under this scheme and the majority of the Philanthropy Initiative funding will be directed towards arts and culture organisations seeking support for projects that include an education component. The application form includes a provision that in the event of multiple applications competing for limited grant allocation, priority will be given to Arts in Education projects aimed at disadvantaged (DEIS) schools.
