New cultural body to be launched this week

A new cultural body is to be launched this week to co-ordinate and fund Irish arts abroad.

The news came as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue announced funding of €93,087 for Irish cultural and artistic activities abroad.

This follows the recommendations of an interim cultural committee.

The Minister indicated that in future the international dimension of the arts, including funding, will be handled by a new body, Culture Ireland, which is to be launched on Thursday.

Groups who received funding today included the Irish Chamber Choir - €30,000 for performances at Carnigie Hall in New York in March; Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre - €18,000 for performances in London in February; Gene Siskel Film Center €2,000 for Irish participation in the EU Film Festival in Chicago in March; National Chamber Choir - €15,000 for performances in the Middle East in March and the National Portrait Gallery - €12,000 to fund Irish participation in an exhibition at the Gallery in London from March to June.