Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
417. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department continue to promote specific programmes promoting the Irish arts and culture in Ireland and abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22333/21]
View answerIn 2021, the arts, culture, audio-visual and live entertainment sectors have been allocated Government resources of €135m (74%) more than the amount allocated at the beginning of 2020. Of this I have allocated an additional €50m to the Arts Council bringing its 2021 funding to €130m allowing it to help artists, arts workers and arts organisations come through this crisis and play their part in the national recovery; €9m has been allocated to Screen Ireland bringing its funding to just over €30m in 2021.
I have secured funding of €50m for live performance events to take place in 2021 in venues across the country. Following exceptional demand for the pilot Live Performance Support Scheme in 2020, a fund of €25m is now being made available through my Department for 2021. The scheme will provide significant job opportunities in the live performance sector. It will support the continued production of high quality artistic output, as was demonstrated during the pilot phase of the Live Performance Support Scheme, which recently provided thousands of days of employment to hundreds of musicians, actors, crew and technicians when no other opportunities were available.
As a further support measure for those in the live music entertainment industry, I recently announced funding of up to €14m for a new scheme to make a contribution to the overheads of businesses that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19 and that do not qualify for other business supports. Self-employed businesses whether sole traders, partnerships and incorporated entities operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector are eligible to apply.
€5m will be allocated by my Department to local authorities to facilitate programming of outdoor live performances in summer 2021 animating town centres for local communities, should public health considerations permit. It will allow for the procurement by local authorities of performances by local performers. Performances can be recorded or streamed if health restrictions prevent live events. Local authorities will be encouraged to engage events companies to develop and deliver a programme of performances.
A separate €5m is being made available for a scheme of capital supports for the commercial live entertainment sector. This will be applied to supporting the installation of high quality recording and streaming facilities in venues through a competitive grant application process.
€1 million was allocated for the St. Patrick’s Festival 2021 to support the employment of performers, producers, artists, technicians, creatives and support staff. With gatherings still restricted, SPF 2021 curated a rich and dynamic programme of events involving hundreds of artists, musicians, performers, creators, and community organisations that will be broadcast on the St. Patrick’s Festival TV online channel over six days and nights, marking the national day.
Through Culture Ireland's programmes my Department continues to promote Irish arts abroad. These include a regular grant round programme which operates on the basis of 5 grant rounds per year and currently supports online presentation of Irish artists globally.
Culture Ireland also continues to operate its showcase programme, designed to generate further opportunities for Irish artists by supporting the presentation of their work to international programmers.
Recent activity includes the digital showcasing of 11 Irish bands as part of the Music from Ireland Showcase at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas in 18 – 19 March. Upcoming is The Great Escape, (usually an in-person event in Brighton, GB) from 13 – 15 May where five recorded performances will be showcased online.
Culture Ireland for the first time ever curated an online 5 day festival running from 17-21 March which was designed to celebrate Irish arts worldwide at a time when Irish artists normally travel the globe, presenting and sharing our culture on international stages. The festival, entitled SEODA, was an ambitious programme to ensure Irish artists reached audiences worldwide, including the diaspora and new audiences where Irish artists may not have travelled previously. The festival was also available free online in Ireland.
