Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2020
17. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide funding to cultural and arts groups to host virtual Christmas events given the current Covid-19 situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37323/20]
View answerThroughout the COVID-19 crisis, my Department has funded a wide range of activities in the cultural sphere, many of which involve the online presentation of events that would normally have taken place live and in-person. These include a myriad of online performances, events such as Cruinniú na nÓg and a wide range of activities presented online by Ireland's National Cultural Institutions.
Earlier this year, I introduced a Pilot Live Performance Support Scheme to assist commercial venues, producers and promoters of live performances to provide employment to workers in the creative industries. The main objective of the scheme is to provide employment opportunities in the live performance sector while also complying with public health protection measures.
I recently announced the recipients of the €5 million Pilot Live Performance Support Scheme with a total of 59 organisations benefitting from the scheme. The main objective of the scheme is to provide employment opportunities in the live performance sector while also complying with public health protection measures. The projects that are supported have already started to be presented to the public. Last weekend saw the first live events and there will be many more over the coming weeks and covering the Christmas period. These include pantomimes, live performance, musicians all across the State.
In addition to the Live Performance Support Scheme, a project called the Music Industry Stimulus Package was managed on behalf of my Department by First Music Contact. My Department will consider its continuation in the future.
I have increased funding to the Arts Council in 2020 by over €25m and increased it further, to €130m for 2021. Since the onset of COVID-19, the Arts Council has extended its reach and in 2020 has provided grants to many individuals and organisations that have not previously receive Arts Council funding.
In addition to these measures, there are a very wide range of supports available to individuals and businesses whose financial circumstances have been negatively impacted by COIVD-19. The particular support depends on the institutional arrangements of the individual or organisation and whether they are a sole trader or an incorporated entity.
