Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2018
657. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which her Department, directly or through the aegis of bodies subordinate to her Department, continue to assist community based groups and organisations involved in musical or theatrical productions throughout the country with a view to maximising interest in the arts at local level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40083/18]
View answerThe Creative Ireland Programme is a culture-based programme led by my Department designed to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. Its core proposition is that participation in cultural activity drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal well-being and achievement.
Under Pillar 2 - 'Enabling Creativity in Every Community' of the Programme, in 2018, my Department allocated a sum €2 m and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government allocated a sum of €1 m to all 31 local authorities (€96,000 each approximately) to enable them support an extensive programme of activities, events and initiatives in each county. To date in 2018, over 400 different initiatives around Ireland have been funded under Pillar 2. These include arts projects, grant schemes, concerts, conferences, exhibitions, festivals, outreach projects, publications, research programmes, and workshops among other activities. They cover topics such as archaeology, architecture, biodiversity, crafts, heritage, dance, film, history, literature, music, photography, poetry, storytelling, theatre and the visual arts.
These activities form part of each local authority's five-year Culture & Creative Strategies which were launched by me, An Taoiseach and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government on the 12 September.
These strategies highlight the critical role our Local Authorities play as providers and enablers of cultural and creative experiences in communities across Ireland, with all of the vitally important social, and indeed economic, consequences that follow. The strategies recognise that the arts and creative endeavours are crucial to society and community growth. With collaboration and shared purpose at the heart of the Creative Ireland Programme, each strategy provides meaningful opportunities for people and their communities, together with each Local Authority, to build and nurture a creative society. All the strategies are available online at: https://creative.ireland.ie/en/creative-communities.
In addition to funding directly from my Department, the Arts Council also provides significant supports for the Arts at local level.
