Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
76. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to consider a capital fund for the arts sector, similar to that available to sporting organisations in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53613/23]
View answerMy Department has a range of capital schemes for the Arts sector that, allowing for differing requirements of arts and sports, are similar to grants available to sporting organisations.
Grants are available to not-for-profit arts and culture organisations and the conditions for payment of grants mirror those for sports capital grants.
At present, arts organisations can apply for funding under the Cultural Capital Scheme - Stream E. The focus of Stream E is to fund arts and culture organisations to help assist them to reduce their energy needs and their carbon footprint in line with the Government's action on climate change. The scheme also provides funding for organisational energy audits which is a first time initiative. Projects that provide additional capacity for artists and artistic production, as well as those that address access issues, will also be supported.
This scheme offers grants up to €50,000 to not-for-profit organisations as follows;
- Grants of up to €20k are available at 85% grant funding rate
- Grants of up to €50k are available to Local Authority owned facilities at 60%of eligible costs;
- Grants of up to €50k are provided at a maximum grant funding rate of 70%
- Eligible facilities will include facilities such as arts centres; integrated cultural centres; museums; heritage centres; archives; creative and performance spaces.
Other capital schemes for the arts and cultural sector operated by my Department include:-
- Every year, the Music Capital Scheme opens (by Music Network on behalf of the Department) to provide funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups/ensembles and professional musicians.
- Mindful of the focus around the Decade of Commemorations and other commemorative events, my Department operates a Scheme of funding support for local, regional and specialised museums, to promote and enhance these institutions through the provision of funding for capital exhibition costs.
- a new pilot capital scheme for Arts, Culture and the Night Time Economy to develop vibrant late night arts and culture scenes in Irish cities, towns and villages as well as provide additional capital to assist in the provision of building and equipment needs, artists’ workspaces, and adapting facilities to reduce energy needs and carbon footprints.
The Cultural Capital investment scheme for arts and culture centres was first opened for applications in 2019. Under this scheme, applications were invited under a number of separate streams over the recent years offering capital funding of different amounts towards smaller or larger enhancement/expansion/ refurbishment works to arts and culture facilities. Full details of cultural capital schemes and its various streams, including guidelines and criteria, as well as expenditure can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link;
www.gov.ie/en/publication/b1eab-creative-arts-grants-and-funding-previous-schemes/.
As part of Budget 24, I announced an allocation of an extra €1.9 million to provide additional capital support for our regional arts infrastructure. This funding will to meet building and equipment needs, including equipment for measures under the Night-time Economy, and adapt facilities to reduce energy needs and carbon footprint. I hope to bring forward proposals in the coming months for a pilot initiative for allocating of this funding.
