Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
295. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress the Covid-19 restrictions have caused to those previously working in the live events sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24906/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Arts and Culture sectors have taken a very particular hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; cultural venues and events were among the first to be closed in the country’s public health response to the crisis, and they will be among the last to recover. I am eager to get our musicians, our performers and all their behind-the-scenes technical support people back to earning a living and doing what they do so well, as Irish society needs live performance and events.
The Jobs Stimulus package has specifically provided a range of supports as follows:
- The culture and audio visual sectors will benefit from a new €10 million pilot “Performance and Production Support Package” to support the live performance and the audiovisual production sector. Under this funding package, a new scheme "Live Performance Support Scheme" has been be put in place to assist venues and promoters of live performances in music and theatre, by helping to de-risk the costs of preparing for new productions which may subsequently have to be postponed or cancelled. Also under this package, an audiovisual scheme will be put in place to assist the film and TV drama sector. These pilot schemes have been designed in consultation with the sectors, and aim to build confidence in recommencing production, rehearsals and event planning now for the months ahead.
- A further €2 million will also be available for the next round Sound and Vision for the audiovisual sector. Broadcasting has played a vital role in providing reliable news and information to citizens throughout the COVID-19 crisis, and in bringing together local communities.
- The additional funding to this sector comes on top of other supports made this year totalling €13.2m. A €3 million TV Drama Fund administered by Screen Ireland will support the production of new Irish TV drama content in line with the Government’s Audiovisual Action Plan, and will grow the sector, firmly placing creativity at the centre of Irish government policy.
- In addition, the Jobs Stimulus has provided a new €10 million Culture Fund, which will include increased funding for Creative Ireland, to employ artists through the Creative Youth and Creative Communities programmes, funding to support the commissioning of artists to produce creative content for the national broadcast, a dedicated fund for musicians, recognising the particular difficulties being experienced by music performers across a range of genres and funding for Ealaíon na Gaeltachta for new artists’ bursaries and arts activities in Gaeltacht schools.
- A further capital funding of up to €6 million is also being made available to accelerate the redevelopment and renewal of our National Cultural Institutions envisaged under the National Development Plan.
I have also recently announced the membership of the Arts and Culture Recovery Task Force, which meets for the first time today. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the arts and culture sectors. Live performances, theatre, music and events have all but disappeared from society. Identifying ways of preserving and re-establishing this once-vibrant, heart-warming and magical sector will be a mammoth task. The membership of the Task Force that I am appointing holds a wealth of experience and talent and I have no doubt that collectively they will rise to the challenge. The sector includes culture, the arts, the audiovisual industry and the live entertainment industry.
Clare Duignan will chair the Task Force and the other members will be:
- Arts Council
- Business to Arts
- Council of the National Cultural Institutions
- County and City Management Association (CCMA)
- Department of Health
- Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht
- Department of Social Protection
- Ealaín na Gaeltachta
- Events Industry Alliance
- Irish Congress of Trade Unions
- National Campaign for the Arts
- Irish Music Rights Organisation
- Irish Theatre Institute
- Screen Ireland
- Screen Producers Ireland
- Denise Chaila
- Martin Hayes
The Taskforce will prepare a report including a set of recommendations on how best the arts and culture sector can adapt and recover from the unprecedented damage arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and I look forward to receiving this. Taking as its starting point, the research and evidence of the devastating impact of the pandemic on the sector compiled by the Department, the Arts Council and other stakeholders, the Taskforce will:-
- adopt a solution-focused approach;
- seek sector-specific expert input and consult with stakeholders;
- invite additional individuals or expertise to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis, as it deems necessary;
- focus on providing intelligence and recommendations for an expected on-going and varying impact of COVID-19 restrictions;
- identify immediate and medium term goals for recovery and sustainability in the sector;
- identify possible policy initiatives or impediments to a robust sustainable recovery in the sector;
- recommend whole of Government policy initiatives and actions to support the sector;
- Produce a report by the 31 October 2020 in order to provide the Government with an action-plan for the sector.
