Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
191. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports that will be available for small-scale festivals in 2022; the criteria for applications; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55112/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department this year again ran a Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme. The Scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of other central Government monies, and which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies. Events which are funded by the Arts Council and/or Fáilte Ireland are not eligible. The maximum funding available under this scheme is capped at €5,000. Full details of this year’s scheme, including the application criteria, are available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/89595-small-scale-local-festivals-and-summer-schools/
28 small festival projects were allocated a total of €96,391 in 2021. Details of this allocation may be found at:merrionstreet.ie/en/news-room/releases/minister_martin_announces_funding_for_small_scale_local_festivals_and_summer_schools.html. It is currently envisaged that this funding scheme will run again in 2022 and will launch in the first quarter of the year. Further, it is expected that the eligibility criteria will be broadly the same as the 2021 scheme. Applicants are typically given 4 weeks to apply under the scheme and all applications are subject to a competitive evaluation process.
The all-of-government Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022, led by my Department, seeks to enable each citizen to realise their full creative potential. Under its Creative Communities initiative, annual funding is provided to the 31 local authorities to enable them implement their individual Culture and Creativity Strategies 2018-2022. In implementing their respective 5-year strategies, some local authorities have utilised their funding allocation to deliver small-scale festivals. To date since 2017, over €843,000 has been invested delivering 144 festivals. My Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to allocate funding to support local authority implementation of their individual Culture and Creativity Strategies during 2022. Also under the Creative Ireland Programme’s Creative Climate Action, my Department in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, will provide funding to a number of festivals in 2022 to engage the public on the need for climate action and lifestyle and behavioural change.
The Arts Council also offer a wide range of financial supports across art forms and arts practices, including festivals. The Arts Council sees festivals as key producers and presenters of the arts and are critical to engaging large and diverse audiences.
The Arts Council also provides financial support to a number of single art form festivals (e.g. theatre, dance, film) and such festivals are supported within the policy context of those art forms. The Council also supports many multidisciplinary arts festivals, meaning those festivals that programme across different art forms, including literature, music, street arts, theatre, visual arts and different areas of arts practice. Their Festivals Investment Scheme, for example, is specifically designed to offer support to local/voluntary organisations to develop arts festivals. The larger festivals regularly supported by the Council include the Wexford Festival Opera and the Galway Arts Festival.
Fáilte Ireland supports local authorities in the development of tourism in their area including funding for capital investment, festivals and events. Such supports are an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have asked the agency to provide further information directly to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
