Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020
15. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the status of the actions taken to date to support the events industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27378/20]
View answerI am acutely aware of the unprecedented nature of the challenge facing live performance promoters and producers, not least from a financial point of view. Earlier this month, I launched a number of new music and performance support schemes totalling €6 million to aid employment in the creative industries.
The Music Stimulus Package, involves three funding schemes designed to help sustain the popular and commercial music sector across all music genres, including rock, pop, hip hop, indie, jazz, country and western and traditional and folk. Under this package, a fund of €1 million has been put in place to stimulate areas of work which artists would usually fund with income from own sources including live event fees. These schemes are targeted at professional musicians and their teams and will support song writing camps, recording and album releases. The aim is to ensure that Irish musicians, engineers, PR, media, agents, labels and publishers can continue to develop and share their work in the context of COVID restrictions. The Music Stimulus Package schemes are being managed on behalf of the Department by First Music Contact and will be subject to peer panel assessment.
Under the “Live Performance Support pilot Scheme” a further allocation of €5 million is being made available which aims to assist commercial venues, producers and promoters of live performances and provide employment to workers in the creative industries. Applications were accepted by my Department for this scheme and allocations will be made on the basis of the number of people being employed.
The Deputy will also be aware that I have recently appointed the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce which is beìng chaired by Clare Duignan. The membership of the taskforce includes representation from the Events Industry Alliance. Taking as its starting point the research and evidence of the devastating impact of the pandemic on the sector compiled by my Department, the Arts Council and other stakeholders, the Taskforce will prepare a report to me setting out recommendations on how best the arts and culture sector can adapt and recover from the unprecedented damage arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. The report will address culture, the arts, and the audiovisual and live entertainment industries.
