Earning its place in the economy
THE Arts Council first met on Jan 31, 1952. One member, Chester Beatty, was absent, but the five present — Msgr Pádraig de Brun, Richard Hayes, Thomas McGreevy, John Maher and the Earl of Rosse — concerned themselves with housekeeping: opening a bank account, signing cheques. No allocations were made from a government grant of £10,000.
Sixty years on, it’s more complicated, and busier. Arts Council director Orlaith McBride is at the end of a hectic week at their Merrion Square offices, where a large chunk of next year’s €63.2m allocation has been disbursed to arts organisations.
