Arts boosted by €245m package

ENTRANCE fees for plays, exhibitions and other cultural events at publicly funded facilities will be cut for one day every year under a €245 million package to boost interest in the arts.

Proposals are to be drawn up for the National Cultural Day, to be introduced next year, which will allow the public access to top events free or at a reduced price.

The announcement was part of Arts Minister Séamus Brennan’s funding package for arts projects nationwide this year.

Highlights include extended opening hours at weekends and evenings for national cultural institutions while €40m has been earmarked to improve facilities across the country.

“Overall it must be acknowledged that the arts and culture sectors in this country are of central importance, not only to the cultural development and status of Ireland, but also in contributing to the economic and social progress of the country,” said Mr Brennan.

“Tourism, for example, benefits enormously from a thriving arts and culture sector that shows us as a people unique in heritage and unrivalled in written and dramatic expression.”

Of the €245m, €82m will be provided to the Arts Council and €23m to the Irish Film Board.

An additional €40m is provided to help improve and develop facilities nationwide. Building projects to be finished this year include the Wexford Opera House, the extension to the Gate Theatre and National Theatre, and refurbishment of the Druid Theatre in Galway.

The funding also provides for the Abbey Theatre to tour for the first time in years and for the Gate Theatre to take Beckett’s Waiting for Godot to 40 venues around the country.