Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2017
126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to generate interest in the arts throughout the country, including rural areas with particular reference to the desirability of local talent, commitment and investment which can be supplemented by her department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40923/17]
View answer135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which her Department continues to provide funding for the arts at local and community level, directly or indirectly, particularly in view of the recent Action Plan for Rural Development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40933/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 135 together.
On 8 December 2016, the Creative Ireland Programme was launched as the Government's Legacy Programme arising out of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and as the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach.
The Creative Ireland Programme is a high level, high ambition, 5-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022 (building up to the centenary of the foundation of the State) which aims to place creativity at the centre of public policy. The programme is being led by my Department in partnership with other Government Departments and Agencies, local authorities, the third level sector, arts and culture organisations (including the National Cultural Institutions) and relevant NGOs. The launch document for the programme identified ten actions for 2017, under five specific pillars:
- Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child
- Enabling Creativity in Every Community
- Investing in our Creative and Cultural Infrastructure
- Ireland as a centre of Excellence in Media Production
- Unifying our Global reputation
I am glad to report that there has been significant progress in relation to the delivery of the ten actions identified for 2017. With regard to Pillar 2, which is focused on local communities, a Culture Team has been established in each of the 31 local authorities and each local authority has produced a 2017 Creative Ireland Plan and is in the process of drawing up a more detailed 2018 Creative Plan setting out a five year plan for local creativity.
These policy initiatives are supported by significant additional resources which are being directed towards the arts and culture sector.
For example, this year I announced details of more than €10 million in capital funding to a total of 122 arts organisations around the country under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018. This is the most significant investment in arts and cultural centres in a decade and will target investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and creative spaces.
The Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 is flexible to ensure that a diverse number of arts organisations would benefit.
A full list of successful projects under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 (Streams 1, 2 & 3) is available on my Department’s website at the following link https://www.chg.gov.ie/arts/creative-arts/grants-and-funding/
