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Arts Promotion

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Questions (416, 421, 422)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

416. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she expects to be in a position to assist in the promotion of the arts post-Covid-19 given the challenges arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22332/21]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

421. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she expects to be in a position to create a greater interest in Irish culture with a view to maximisation of economic benefit in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22339/21]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

422. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she directly or indirectly expects to be in a position to promote an interest in Irish culture, history and the arts with particular reference to young persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22340/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 416, 421 and 422 together.

My Department is engaged in measures to promote cultural activity among young people through the Creative Ireland Programme. My Department is a key partner with the Department of Education in the delivery of Creative Youth, the plan for children and young people under Creative Ireland.

The delivery of this plan includes two key measures: the Creative Schools initiative, led by the Arts Council with support from both Departments, and Creative Clusters which is led by Department of Education in association with Education Support Centres Ireland.

Ireland launched the Creative Youth Plan, a strategy to enable the creative potential of every young person, in December 2017. Seeking to create a place where knowledge and creativity are equal partners in the formation of our young people giving them an opportunity to become creative, active citizens, Creative Youth sets out measures to

- Expand young people’s access to creative initiatives and activities,

- Focus on the inclusion of every child, and

- Support positive and sustainable outcomes for children and young people through creative engagement across formal and non-formal settings.

The Creative Ireland Programme has seen many significant contributions to achieving the best possible outcomes for children and young people. Enhancing arts and creativity initiatives in school-based settings has been complemented by improving cross-sectoral collaboration to support creativity for children and young people in the community.

Harnessing the creative potential of our people and communities is a cornerstone of the Creative Ireland Programme, and particularly through our Creative Communities initiative. In each of the 31 local authorities the Creative Ireland Programme has established a Culture and Creativity Team which brings together local expertise in arts, culture, heritage, libraries, enterprise and community engagement, to foster collaboration and spark new initiatives. A local Creative Ireland Co-ordinator has also been appointed for each local authority. With the help of local artists, creatives, cultural and heritage organisations and community groups across the country, each local authority created a five-year Culture and Creativity Strategy 2018 – 2022. These are locally-led and designed to enable people to work together to transform their communities, their lives and their environment through creativity.

The Arts Council is the Irish government agency for developing the arts. The Council works in partnership with artists, arts organisations, public policy makers and others to build a central place for the arts in Irish life. The Arts Council supports and promotes children and young people’s engagement with the arts from birth to early adulthood.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Ireland in 1992, recognises children’s right to participate in the arts and cultural life; and to express themselves freely in the medium of their choice, including in the form of art. The Convention also recognises children’s right to an education that enables them to develop to their full potential. The Arts Council considers opportunities for children to learn and develop artistic skills, and to experience the arts, as essential to realising these rights.

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