Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
939. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether a plan by a group (details supplied) should be implemented; her further views on the plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12051/20]
View answerSince the advent of the crisis, officials from my Department have engaged and had meetings with the group to which the Deputy refers as well as with many other stakeholders across the arts sector. These include the arts and cultural organisations under my aegis, as well a broad range of sectoral stakeholders including resource organisations, advocacy groups and individual artists and practitioners.
In Ireland, the Arts Council is the primary organisation through which Government supports and delivers funding to the arts. In March and April this year, the Council had undertaken surveys of arts organisations and artists to identify the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on audiences, employment and finances. Among the findings to emerge from the surveys was that 12,000 events were cancelled with projected audiences of 2.4 million and that 90% of artists and 85% of arts organisations are affected by cancelled or postponed events.
The Council established a short-term Advisory Group in early May to identify ways to address impacts of the Covid-19 Crisis on the sector. The Group brought together a number of leading voices from the arts and other sectors and reported to the Arts Council on measures to sustain the arts sector and to help address the challenges posed by reopening. This Group has now reported and the Council has sent the Report to me. The report makes key recommendations including creating an immediate Survival Fund. The published Report is available at http://www.artscouncil.ie/News/Arts-Council-welcomes-report-from-Covid-19-Expert-Advisory-Group/.
Last week, the Taoiseach and I announced an additional €25 million in extra supports to help the Arts and Culture sector recover from the COVID-19 crisis in 2020. A total of €20 million will be allocated to the Arts Council, bringing its allocation this year to €100 million. The funding will allow the Council to provide for the survival of the sector and will include bursaries and commissions to artists and resources for arts organisations as they prepare for re-opening. This is additional to funding previously allocated to the sector.
The balance of €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.
