Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:565. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the available funding for artists under 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38398/19]
View answerTuesday, 24 September 2019
Questions (565)
Written answers
The Creative Youth Plan under the Creative Ireland Programme commits to specific actions to increase and enhance access to a range of creative and cultural activities and practices for young people. The Creative Ireland Programme supports do not however provide funding directly to young artists, but are aimed at supporting projects and initiatives which engage young people in activities, as well as whole-of-school supports and support for teachers’ continuing professional development. Such supports include pilot projects aimed at increasing and enhancing access to drama and group singing activities for young people in partnership with Youth Theatre Ireland and Sing Ireland respectively.
Additionally, the Creative Ireland Programme’s National Creativity Fund is supporting a number of initiatives which are designed to support young performers, including the
- Royal Irish Academy of Music development of Le Chéile, music ensembles for young disabled musicians;
- Irish Chamber Orchestra’s establishment of the Limerick City Youth Orchestra for 12 to 18 year olds; and
- Ireland’s National Musical Instrument Resource which is seeking to ensure that no one, regardless of age or socio-economic background, is prevented from fulfilling their creative potential for lack of access to an appropriate musical instrument.
My Department has a range of other supports which may benefit young performers, such as the Music Capital Scheme which provides funding for the purchase of equipment by performing groups and individual talented musicians. At the same time, the Department of Education and Skills is supporting the national roll-out of Music Generation as part of the commitments under the Creative Youth Plan.