Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
388. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of the new €2 million fund to be administered by Creative Climate Action – Creative Ireland; the aims and objectives of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22039/21]
View answerThe Creative Ireland Programme is a culture-based, all-of-government initiative led by my department, the core proposition of which is that participation in cultural activity by everyone drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal wellbeing and achievement. Working collaboratively, the Creative Ireland Programme has focused on supporting both direct engagement with creativity (e.g., in education, institutions, industry, and communities) as well as creativity as a way of engaging with broader societal issues (e.g., mental health, social marginalisation, rural isolation, poverty, isolation of the aged, individuals with disabilities or special needs, migrant integration, intercultural dialogue, climate action, biodiversity loss).
The evidence that climate change and the interrelated challenge of biodiversity loss are happening now is compelling. The urgent need for climate action must be addressed both individually and collectively. The Programme for Government commits to an ambitious reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The increased scale and depth of this ambition cannot be addressed through policy and technology alone. A concerted mobilisation of every element of Irish society through sustained engagement is required. To that end, the Programme for Government recognises the need to work in partnership with communities and to further develop the role and deploy the experience of the cultural and creative sectors with a commitment to “Support Creative Ireland in engaging the public on climate change through the creative and cultural sectors initiative.”
In 2019, the Creative Ireland Programme in partnership with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment commissioned a report Engaging the Public on Climate Change through the Cultural and Creative Sectors. This report observed that few sectors are better placed than the culture and creative sectors to bridge the gaps between what we know and feel about climate change, and to critically examine and provoke a shift in cultural values and norms.
In November 2020, I hosted a workshop Creating Deeper Engagement on Climate Change in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with participation from Minister Ryan as well as policy makers, academics and representatives across the climate change and creative and cultural sectors.
To address the Programme for Government’s commitment, my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications have provided funding for the Creative Ireland Programme to create partnerships that connect the public sector and the creative sector in order to enhance public engagement with climate change. On the 29th March, I launched the Creative Climate Action Fund in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the first fund of its kind in Ireland. This is a fund of up to €2 million and, depending on the number and scale of the applications received, may fund between 10 – 20 projects until the end of 2022 with budgets of between €30,000 — €200,000. There are two strands of funding available for prospective applicants:
1. An open call – to organisations, NGOs, charities, enterprises, institutions and collectives/networks working with creative and cultural practitioners;
2. A closed call – to local authorities, either individually, with other local authorities or external partners
The closing date for applications is Friday 21st of May. Applications can be submitted at https://creativeireland.submit.com which also hosts a detailed briefing note, FAQ’s and additional resources. Across both strands, the Creative Climate Action Fund is seeking:
- Responses of creative or interpretive expression (whether traditional or contemporary) from across the arts, cultural and creative sectors.
- Projects that can meaningfully connect people and communities with the profound changes that are happening as a result of climate change, and can transform that connection into climate action and behaviour change.
- Interdisciplinary and collaborative ways of working which bring together creative practitioners with different disciplines, e.g., science, urban planning, engineering, and technology with thought-leaders, activists, academics and others.
- Initiatives that demonstrate impact and have considered evaluation in order to move beyond raising awareness of climate change, and discuss, encourage, and facilitate system, lifestyle and behaviour changes.
- Innovative delivery using artistic and creative ways to encourage ideas that are transformative, moving, challenging and thought provoking and promote alternative ways of thinking and acting.
- Not only deepened participation, but a widening reach to connect with diverse audiences and communities spanning urban and rural, ages and cultures reflecting a scheme that is inclusive, ensuring nobody is left behind as a result of climate action.
- Initiatives that have the potential for scale and aim for longevity, making the best use of platforms and focusing on wider participation and engagement, longer term movements and campaigns.
Sustained climate action requires a combined commitment and cooperation across society, in recognition that the causes, and impacts of climate change are experienced on both a global scale and an individual scale.
