Call for Funding

According to the latest Arts Council Newsletter, the Arts Council is urging the incoming Government to provide €100 million to fund the arts in 2008, which is a €20 million increase on the 2007 figure.

In a statement, Arts Council Chair, Olive Braiden, noted that €100 million would be a significant investment and would stabilise the arts sector in Ireland for the first time ever. This stability would enable artists and arts organisations to work regularly in schools, in communities and other settings as well as playing their crucial role in the life of the nation, improving the quality of our life at home and enhancing Ireland’s cultural reputation in the international arena.

Stressing the need for €100m Olive Braiden reiterated that the value of the arts should not be underestimated.

Mary Cloake, Director of the Arts Council, said: "Our new knowledge economy needs the arts more than ever. It's our ability to adapt, our creativity and our management of knowledge that will secure our future success. All of these much needed and increasingly highly rated traits stem directly from an involvement in and exposure to the arts, so it makes financial sense for the Government to continue to invest in the arts."