Substantial majority of arts sector considering emigration, says survey

Almost three-quarters (74%) are not satisfied with the arts facilities and spaces in their area, and a substantial majority say they or artists and arts workers they know are considering emigrating. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

The "spectre of emigration is haunting Irish arts", according to a survey of over 1,100 artists carried out by Sinn Féin.

The party's survey found that over 80% of artists said that money was "the key barrier to creating, performing or enjoying art". 

Almost three-quarters (74%) are not satisfied with the arts facilities and spaces in their area, and a substantial majority say they or artists and arts workers they know are considering emigrating, rising to 70% in Dublin.

While 82% of those who responded said that money was the key barrier, others listed were “time” (39.8%) and “workspace” (38.8%). Over a fifth of participants also identified “elitism” (21.5%) and “bureaucracy” (20.2%) as major barriers they face.

Other barriers were identified as being family and child care responsibilities, the distance from venues in a Dublin/Belfast-centric sector, the lack of accessible cultural infrastructure, and "a perceived closed-shop cronyism in the sector".

Sinn Féin's Arts spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh said that "the housing and cost-of-living crises, particularly in Dublin, are significantly hampering the ability of artists and arts workers to create and perform. File photo: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie

A government scheme which sees 2,000 eligible artists and creative arts workers selected at random out of more than 9,000 applicants to receive €325 a week has been found to be "unfailingly positive", a new report recently found. This pilot scheme was launched for an initial three-year-period. 

In the Sinn Féin survey, 117 of the respondents were in receipt of this, with nearly 80% finding it beneficial. However, most favour changing the system of allocations from the random lottery being used to being issued based on either the “financial need of the artist” (42.5%) or the “merit of the artist, based on prior experience or projects” (36.2%), with just 9.6% favouring the status quo system.

In his foreword, Sinn Féin's Arts spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh said that "the housing and cost-of-living crises, particularly in Dublin, are significantly hampering the ability of artists and arts workers to create and perform. The spectre of emigration is haunting Irish arts". 

He added that schemes like a basic income "are welcome steps towards showing artists the respect and recognition they deserve" but that more "can, and must, be done".

"Artists need homes, workspaces, and incomes," he said.