Arts Council hosts information briefing for sector

IFACCA/Artshub, 11 November 2003,Ireland

On October 31, the Arts Council of Ireland hosted an information briefing for all the arts organisations that applied for financial support in 2004. The meeting marked the first occasion in the 52-year history of the Arts Council at which the sector was given copies of the council’s Pre Budget Submission to Government for funding. Additionally, the council outlined the process for its own funding decisions later this year, once the level of government funding to the arts is made known in November. Approximately 170 arts organisations from around the country were represented at the meeting, which was addressed by Ms Olive Braiden, Chair of the Arts Council. Ms Braiden told the meeting that the submission to government was very detailed and the process that the Arts Council follows once the government allocation is received is very rigorous. ‘The council, in its submission to government, is asking that the sector be put back on track after the difficulties of this year (2003), when funding was reduced significantly,’ Ms Braiden said. ‘We need to achieve the level of funding which was originally designated for this year to come next year’. Ms Braiden explained that the Arts Council would be satisfied if the amount set out in the Arts Plan for 2003 (53.7 million Euros) was allocated by the government in 2004. However, Ms Braiden warns that even with the increased funding, the Arts Council’s job will be ‘very difficult’, with 53.7 million Euros being sufficient to satisfy only half the demands made on the council. For further information CLICK HERE.

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