Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
318. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to assist young artists with their professional development in view of the significant financial constraints placed on the arts sector due to Covid-19 resulting in difficulties for younger and emerging talent to find work and develop professionally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19179/20]
View answerPrimary support for the arts in Ireland is delivered by the Arts Council, which is independent in its funding decisions under the Arts Act 2003.
In June, the Government made an additional €20 million available to the Arts Council. In last week’s the Stimulus, I announced further increase funding to the Arts Council bringing the 2020 allocation to a total of €105 million.
I understand that the Arts Council plans to invest the additional resources in enhanced bursaries, commissions, projects and other supports for individual artists and practitioners, and in the arts organisations through which much of the work is made. In this way additional funding for the Arts Council will be targeted at protecting jobs and livelihoods of artists as well as helping arts organisations facing financial difficulties. Further information and application details are available at http://www.artscouncil.ie/available-funding/. I was pleased to visit the Arts Council today, to mark the announcement of its award of Next Generation bursaries to 23 artists from across the country practicing a wide range of disciplines from music and dance to film, theatre and literature. The bursary is targeted at artists at an early, pivotal point in their careers, allowing them time to develop their practice.
The Creative Youth Plan under the Creative Ireland Programme commits to increase and enhance access to a range of creative and cultural activities and practices for young people including pilot projects aimed at increasing and enhancing access to drama and group singing activities in partnership with Youth Theatre Ireland and Sing Ireland.
The July Stimulus also included a €200 million investment in training and education, skills development, work placement schemes, recruitment subsidies, job search and assistance measures to help those who have lost their jobs find a new one, retrain, or develop new skills. Details can be accessed on gov.ie at the following link https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/1fe6e-helping-people-especially-young-people-get-back-to-work/.
