Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
931. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an industry assistance programme will be funded to cater for the mental health and well-being of event and arts workers during the Covid-19 crisis. [12099/20]
View answerThe Arts Council is the main Irish Government agency for developing the arts. The Arts Council offers a wide range of financial supports across artforms and arts practices, including arts and health.
Arts and health embraces a range of arts practices occurring primarily in healthcare settings, which bring together the skills and priorities of both arts and health professionals. From an Arts Council perspective, good arts and health practice is characterised by a clear artistic vision, goals and outcomes. It aims to promote health and wellbeing by improving quality of life and cultural access in healthcare settings. Arts and health can involve all artforms, and incorporate a variety of approaches, including conventional arts production and presentation, arts participation and environmental enhancement. Further details of the Arts Council’s programmes can be accessed at this link.
http://www.artscouncil.ie/Arts-in-Ireland/Arts-participation/Arts-and-health/.
The national arts and health website www.artsandhealth includes resource documents, case studies, a directory of contacts, perspectives on a range of issues and current news. The website is funded by the Arts Council as an important element of its Arts and Health Policy.
Last week, the Taoiseach and I announced €25 million in extra supports to help the Arts and Culture sector recover from the Covid19 Emergency in 2020. A total of €20 million will be allocated to the Arts Council bringing its allocation this year to €100 million. A further €5 million will be available for other measures, including securing the future of key cultural and museum spaces and facilities throughout Ireland, and the production of high-quality digital art and on-line performances. The funding will include bursaries and commissions to artists and arts organisations as they prepare for the re-opening of society. This is additional to funding previously allocated to the sector.
The Arts Council established a short-term Advisory Group in early May to identify ways to address impacts of the Covid-19 Crisis on the sector. This group brought together a number of leading voices from the arts and other sectors and will report to the Arts Council on measures to sustain the arts sector through the current challenging period including the challenges posed by reopening. This Group has now reported to the Council with the publication of its report and its submission to government. The report includes an appendix by Professor in public health Dr Gabriel Scally on The Arts and Health.Details of this report can be accessed here. http://www.artscouncil.ie/News/Arts-Council-welcomes-report-from-Covid-19-Expert-Advisory-Group/
