Arts Council of Ireland requires more funding to meet demands

IFACCA/Artshub, 27 October 2003,Ireland

The Arts Council of Ireland will require a significant increase in funding from the government next year if it is to meet the demands of arts organisations seeking financial support, said Ms Olive Braiden, Chair of the Arts Council. The Arts Council received 370 applications from arts organisations seeking financial support of almost €60 million for 2004. The Arts Council claims that the demand for next year is running at almost twice the revenue that was available to the Arts Council to support organisations in 2003. In 2003, the Arts Council received €44 million from the government - a cut in funding by 8% which, when adjusted for inflation, reflected an 11.62% reduction. This year, the Arts Council has applied for the restoration of €53.7 million. ‘This year's reversal in funding has meant that jobs were lost; productions and tours were cancelled; artists left Ireland and uncertainty became the dominant feature in the sector, blocking planning and undermining confidence,’ said Braiden. ‘To put the sector back on track, we need to achieve the level of funding which was originally designated for the second year of the Arts Plan, 2003. The Council in its application is acknowledging the reality of the economic situation nationally, and simply asking for what should have come this year to come next year. I think that is a fair position and I hope it will be accepted as that.’ Braiden acknowledged that there are many competing forces in the economy, but the arts cannot be left behind. ‘They have a unique value to society,’ she said. For further information, CLICK HERE.

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