Sky is the limit if we continue hard work to promote creativity
Heather Humphreys
IT IS an exciting time for arts, culture and creativity in Ireland. In the past year, we have seen everything from growth in community engagement with creativity to the opening of landmark exhibitions in our national cultural institutions.
After a lost period of under-investment in arts, careful stewardship of the economy means we can now increase support for Irish creativity once again.
This year’s highlights include the establishment of culture teams in every local authority in the country, and the reopening of the refurbished historic wings of the National Gallery of Ireland.
This Government is committed to incrementally increasing culture funding as the economy improves, including to the Arts Council and Irish Film Board, in line with the Programme for a Partnership Government. The Taoiseach has said that he intends to double the overall budget for arts, culture and sport over the next seven years, a target we can meet by gradually implementing sustainable increases between now and 2025.
Although this year was particularly tight across the board, we nevertheless increased our culture funding by €8.5m for 2018.
That is a significant proportion of the €13m I secured in additional funds for the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Separately, I announced a further €90m in capital investment between 2018 and
2021. That is a 50pc increase in my budget for that period – a clear indication that this Government is following through on its commitment.
Last December, I launched the Creative Ireland Programme, a whole-of-Government initiative that seeks to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation.
Through its five pillars, the programme strengthens our existing cultural output, while introducing new, targeted initiatives, all with a view to increasing access to culture and improving well-being.
2017 has been a wonderful year of discovery as the programme has engaged with Ireland’s many communities, identifying needs and opportunities, and mapping a plan for the future.
The programme has built significant momentum since its launch and, one year in, I am more confident than ever about what it can achieve in its five-year lifespan.
I listened with interest last week as some Opposition TDs took issue with the increased culture budget I announced for 2018 on behalf of the Government.
This includes additional funds for the Arts Council, the Irish Film Board, Culture Ireland, our national cultural institutions and our newly introduced initiatives.
I also listened with interest as they dismissed the Creative Ireland Programme as an empty vessel.
Unfortunately for these detractors, the facts and figures speak for themselves: there is an awful lot to be positive about.
In 2018, we will start planning for a major capital investment programme in our national cultural institutions and regional infrastructure.
I will be making a further announcement on this 10-year capital plan in due course.
Marts
eanwhile, Culture Ireland will curate a significant cultural programme across Great Britain in 2018, and construction will begin on the Irish Arts Centre in New York, helping to cement Ireland’s cultural offering abroad.
Back on our own shores, we will celebrate Bliain na Gaeilge, together with the European Year of Cultural Heritage. We will also see the commencement of the Creative Children initiative, which is part-funded by the Department of Education and Skills.
The list goes on. Creativity is the ability to transcend traditional ideas and, in so doing, realise our best selves.
I am committed to working with my partners across Government, national agencies, cultural institutions, local authorities and communities to ensure that we unlock that potential in as many people and places as possible.
The framework is in place, the programme up-andrunning, and increased culture funding forthcoming on a sustainable, incremental basis.
I am confident that with continued collaboration and hard work, the sky is the limit.