Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 May 1998

Vol. 490 No. 6

Written Answers. - Millennium Celebrations.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

9 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the plans, if any, her Department has to promote cultural or heritage events to mark the millennium; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10757/98]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

Consideration is being given to the most appropriate way of commemorating the millennium in Ireland and the Taoiseach will shortly announce the Governments approach.

I consider that the establishment of an Academy for the Performing Arts, including a conservatoire in Dublin, would be a very suitable project for the millennium. A working group established by me and the Minister for Education and Science is examining the steps necessary to establish the academy.

Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, will be organising certain events to mark the millennium. The cultural institutions under my aegis are devising their own programmes to celebrate the event as follows. The National Gallery hopes to mark the event with the opening of the new extension to the gallery in 2000. Later that year, the gallery proposes to mount an exhibition to commemorate George Bernard Shaw to mark his contribution to the work of the National Gallery.

The National Concert Hall hopes to mark the event with the opening of the new Second Recital Hall at Earlsfort Terrace. They also plan a major programme of events to inaugurate the new hall and this will take place from the late autumn into the year 2000. Running in parallel with the programme for the Second Recital Hall will be a major programme of events in the main auditorium, featuring outstanding international artists and visiting orchestras throughout the 1999-2000 season.

The National Museum is in the process of formulating proposals to mark the millennium but no final decisions in the matter have been made as yet.

The National Library is considering a possible publication — either in book or CD form — to mark the millennium.

The National Archives is planning the publication of a CD-ROM and an exhibition based on 1,000 of the most important and visually attractive documents in the collection. These documents may also be used as the basis for a travelling exhibition and possible associated publications.

The Chester Beatty Library is planning a special exhibition of its most important cultural material representative of many cultures and societies.

The Irish Museum of Modern Arts plans include the opening of new display galleries in the Deputy Masters House building in the Royal Hospital complex, a major exhibition examining five decades of Irish art selected by a number of respected writers/critics. A major group exhibition of artworks made in the 1990s and acquired for the Irish Museum of Modern Art Collection which reflect the changes and new developments in Irish society and culture in this decade is planned, which will tour to a number of important US and Canadian museums. The exhibition will create new perceptions of Irish art and visual culture including aspects of film making. IMMA is promoting, along with other key visual arts institutions throughout Dublin, the idea that visual arts become a key theme of the millennium year of 2000 with a range of contemporary and historical exhibitions and projects radiating out to include other visual arts disciplines such as design, crafts, film and architecture.