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Arts Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Questions (1265, 1291, 1293)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1265. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will engage with arts and arts workers in Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8291/20]

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Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1291. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the percentage of the Arts Council funding programmes in the previous three years pre-Covid-19 emergency awarded to musicians, music projects and music programmes as opposed to other disciplines within the arts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9450/20]

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Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1293. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount available to the touring and dissemination of work scheme; if that funding will now be made available to artists, performers and touring groups that cannot travel abroad or perform due to the Covid-19 emergency measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9452/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1265, 1291 and 1293 together.

Details of the Arts Council’s expenditure under each funding scheme for all disciplines are published on the Arts Council's website with information showing all allocations from 2008 to 2020. This can be accessed at http://www.artscouncil.ie/funding-decisions/. Decisions are routinely published in the Arts Council newsletter, and decisions are also recorded in the Arts Council's annual reports, which are available online.

Funding for the Arts Council has increased in recent years and stands at of €80.5m in 2020. Much of this is invested by the Council through its Strategic Funding programme which includes grants to key arts organisations across the country. Additional funding is invested in projects and programmes, including Arts Centre Funding, Bursary Awards, Festivals Investment Scheme, and Project Awards for art organisations and artists nationwide. The Arts Council has a number of schemes and initiatives around the support of music, details of which are also available on its website.

The Arts Council responded quickly to the impact of COVID-19 on the arts sector. At the start of the crisis, the Council introduced a series of measures to help artists and arts organisations manage their businesses during the period of the COVID-19 crisis. The Council announced that it would honour all existing funding commitments and asked in particular that its regularly funded arts organisation prioritise commitments to artists. Since March 12th the Arts Council has fast-tracked the payment of up to 90% of funding to organisations and individuals. The Arts Council also announced that there will be no financial penalties for arts organisations and individuals unable to deliver programmed events and activities arising from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Council also undertook a number of detailed surveys of individual artists and arts organisations to identify the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on audiences, employment and finances for March, April and May.

I understand that over the past few months, based on information gathered and its knowledge of the sector, the Arts Council has taken decisions to direct its 2020 funding allocation in a way which would assist artists and arts organisations to best respond to the Covid-19 crisis. These decisions have been taken on the back of extensive and on-going consultation with the arts sector and other stakeholders. Priority in the use of all funds is being given towards supporting the artists and arts workers.

The Council announced a suite of programmes which include expanded bursary, commission and professional development awards designed to sustain the ecology at this difficult time, while also offering support which enables artists to develop work and supports arts workers to enhance their skill sets. In relation to the touring and dissemination of work scheme, the Arts Council announced that the application date for has been deferred to later this year. This is due to the considerable uncertainty regarding programming brought about by the COVID-19 crisis. Details of upcoming funding schemes are routinely publicised by the Council on their website as follows http://www.artscouncil.ie/available-funding/.

Under Section 24 (2) of the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is statutorily independent in its funding decisions and I as Minister cannot intervene in its decisions in this regard.

More generally, my Department has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders since the commencement of the COVID-19 crisis including national cultural institutions, the Arts Council, Screen Ireland, resource organisations, advocacy bodies, and individual arts organisations and artists to assess the impacts of the crisis on the sector and to ensure that optimal use is made of available resources to sustain the sector through this challenging period.

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