Earning its place in the economy

The Arts Council has shown that investment in the arts yields significant returns. So why is it being cut, asks Alan O’Riordan

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.