Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2017
53. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the support her Department is providing to local authorities to improve access and increase participation in arts and culture at a local level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40705/17]
View answerFunding for the arts at all levels is primarily a matter for the Arts Council. In this regard, I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council in Budget 2017. The increase in the Arts Council's allocation in 2017 is €5 million, or 8%, and will assist the Council greatly in implementing its 10-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025).
Based on this strategy the Arts Council has developed a new approach to funding known as Making Great Art Work Funding Framework 2018-2020. The Arts Council has identified five funding categories that will enable it to deliver on its strategic goals. This includes the provision of funding to support local authorities in delivering arts experiences to people across Ireland.
Under Pillar 2 of the Creative Ireland Programme - Enabling creativity in every community- my Department asked local authorities to develop a Culture and Creativity Plan for 2017, reflecting the overall structure and aims of the Creative Ireland Programme. In total over 750 events focussing on the arts, heritage, culture and the Irish language across all local authorities were listed in these plans of which 250 were directly supported by funding provided under the Creative Ireland Programme.
My Department also provides significant capital support for cultural facilities nationwide. So far this year I have announced details of €10.078 million in capital funding to a total of 122 arts organisations under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018. This scheme is the most significant investment in arts and cultural centres in a decade and will target investment at a range of different facilities.
Details of the projects supported are available on my Department's website at www.chg.gov.ie.
