Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 5

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Assistance for Artists.

Mary Harney

Ceist:

11 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the plans, if any, he has to have an examination carried out of the needs of established or emerging artists who wish to ply their trade or practise their art at home in Ireland, but who need start-up assistance, such as workshop spaces, to enable them to do so.

Michael McDowell

Ceist:

18 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the plans, if any, he has to have an examination carried out of the needs of established or emerging artists who wish to ply their trade or practise their art at home in Ireland, but who need start-up assistance, such as workshop spaces, to enable them to do so.

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 11 agus Uimh. 18 le chéile.

It is the policy of An Chomhairle Ealaíon to encourage artists to live and work in their communities throughout the country, a policy I totally support. The measures applied by An Chomhairle to achieve these policy objectives include support for arts centres, exhibitions for locally resident artists and, more particularly, support for studio spaces in which artists can work locally.

I understand from An Chomhairle Ealaíon that it currently supports 12 artists' studios throughout the country offering up to 100 places and hopes to improve on the number of studios in the future.

I have no plans at present to have an examination carried out of this area having regard to An Chomhairle Ealaíon's activities.

Ní miste a lua freisin go mbíonn cúnamh agus spás oibre le fáil ó Údarás na Gaeltachta le haghaidh tograí sa Ghaeltacht in earnálacha a bhaineann leis na healaíona.

I am trying to establish the concept of the artist as a worker in the community who has needs similar to other workers. While I accept and appreciate what has been done to date by the Arts Council, will the Minister accept there is a wider need to provide workshop space for young graduates from art colleges who sometimes seek to work on a co-operative basis from home rather than having to emigrate? Will the Minister acknowledge that young artists need more start-up assistance than is available at present? Will he give an assurance that there will be an intensified effort to enable both young and not so young artists work at home and become part of our cultural economy?

I accept that many graduates coming out of art colleges and art institutes find it difficult to rent premises and that is a real problem. The Arts Council has been of assistance in providing revenue grants to 11 studios — six in Dublin, three in Cork, one each in Galway and Wexford. These were set up by artists to provide space for the kind of people the Deputy refers to. Some of those studios have become the permanent home of some artists because it is expensive to rent in our economic climate. In addition to these studios, the council offered set-up grants for 15 studios in 1993. I do not believe a study is needed but every significant place where the arts are likely to flourish there should be co-operation between the different authorities to see if the number of studio places can be increased. I view this favourably. I believe it can be achieved with co-operation between the private sector, the Department of the Environment and local authorities. Surely there is great capacity, too, under the new urban renewal scheme to consider where this desirable cultural and artistic need could and should be met. This could be taken into account in local authority submissions. My Department will co-operate with other Departments in promoting the expansion of such facilities.

The Minister's answer is encouraging. Does he envisage a role for the county enterprise boards in this respect, particularly for areas that are not well served currently? There is disparity between areas. Areas in which the city or county manager is interested in the arts and an arts officer is on the local authority are doing reasonably well, but not as well as circumstances would demand. However, I am conscious of other areas where the emphasis is not as great on the promotion of the arts. Will the Minister consider the county enterprise boards having a role to play in providing for this area?

It would be a foolish Minister who would stray into the territory of another Minister. Nevertheless I cannot ignore the Deputy's supplementary. My reference to different bodies that might co-operate in this area was illustrative rather than exclusive. The county enterprise development boards are appropriate in this regard. I am aware that some have accepted applications and grant-aided studio space. What could be more at the base of enterprise than creative activity, craft on an art base to a high standard turned into a product aimed at excellence. It makes immense sense to take account of that also.

(Carlow-Kilkenny): Since neither man nor woman can live on art alone, I favour the concept of supporting artists. Yesterday I visited my local school and saw there the work of a visiting artist under whose guidance the sixth class at the school had done superb work. Will the Minister encourage such activity on a wider scale so that many schools will benefit from such direction and support? Despite many primary teachers being jacks and “Jacquelines” of all trades, some are not artists — I was not one either. Art work is of great value to artists and the future of our younger people.

I must reflect on the Deputy's question. I have seen the artist-at-school scheme at work. I visited a school in north Dublin a few months ago for the finish of the period of the artist in residence. In that school there was co-operation betwen the school, the local community and the Arts Council. While it is a matter for the Arts Council, the artist-and-school project should be encouraged by co-operative ventures from which we all benefit.

Has the Minister received a submission from the Cork printmakers? Has he considered their application for workshop-cum-studio space? If so, is he in a position to make a statement on that matter?

It is a separate question but if such communication is in my Department I will make sure that it is dealt with properly and expeditiously.

Barr
Roinn