Arts given €16.4m boost

The Irish arts and cultural sector was today awarded extra funding of €16.4m for 2006.

Minister for the Arts John O’Donoghue gave the Arts Council almost half of the allocation, €7.5m, while the Irish Film Board got €2.3m.

Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann, the National Concert Hall and The Gate Theatre receive €1m each.

The Abbey Theatre and the Irish Chamber Orchestra both get €500,000 while Cork Opera House and Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre were allocated €450,000 and €350,000 respectively.

Mr O’Donoghue said the funding was sourced from savings within his department.

A total of 29 arts and cultural projects will benefit from the funding, which will aid refurbishment, renovation and repair works as well as the purchasing of new equipment, fixtures and fittings and improve access, said the minister.

The Arts Council’s allocation will facilitate the provision of €850,000 to the Wexford Festival Opera, €2.2m for a studio refurbishment scheme and €741,000 for the Irish Traditional Music Archive.

A record total of €79.81m has been allocated to the Arts Council this year, representing a 20.5% increase on the 2005 allocation.

Minister O’Donoghue also pointed out that increases in funding for the Irish film industry were also paying dividends.

“The improvements made to section 481 and the €17m that has already been provided for the Irish Film Board have had a positive impact.

“We now anticipate that film in Ireland will generate over €80m in 2006.”

Mr O’Donoghue said one beneficiary, Smock Alley Theatre, is one of the oldest theatres in the world and he was delighted to announce that money is being allocated for this historic facility, which will provide rehearsal and performance space for many groups, including the Gaiety School of Acting.

The minister added: “Our goal is to encourage as many people as possible to participate in the arts and to also make the arts attractive to people throughout the country.

“I have always maintained that the provision of first-class facilities are an integral part of realising that goal and with that in mind I am delighted to announce funding for the projects concerned.”