Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 September 2024
46. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department or the Arts Council provide any funding to support competitions, competitive prizes, or festivals in the fields of literature, writing, music, singing, visual arts, architecture, ballet or film. [38039/24]
View answerMy Department funds a variety of projects under the B6 Subhead in support of objectives under our high-level goal in relation to developing individual and community engagement with and in the arts, culture and creativity and promoting Ireland’s arts, culture, and creativity globally.
The Arts Council offers a wide range of schemes that provide funding to artists and arts organisations. These include the Festivals Investment Scheme which is a competitive scheme that offers funding to support the staging of festivals on a non-recurring basis. Normally, the Arts Council does not provide funding for competitions, as it is focused on supporting the development and creation of artistic work, rather than competitive events. The Council's mission is to foster artistic expression, encourage innovation, and provide opportunities for artists to create and present their work. The Arts Council’s funding priorities align with projects that contribute to the wider cultural landscape, such as educational initiatives, professional development, and new productions.
With particular emphasis on smaller events organised at community and local level, my Department operates an annual scheme that provides support for festivals in the fields of literature, writing, music, singing, visual arts, architecture, ballet or film.?This Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer School Scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of other central Government monies and which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies. 16 projects were approved for support in 2024 amounting to €68,945.? Cultural initiatives can seek funding under this scheme, which will operate again in 2025. Details of eligibility and application forms can be found at www.gov.ie/en/publication/89595-small-scale-local-festivals-and-summer-schools/.
My Department has provided support for a small number of music competitions - the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, the Dublin International Piano Competition and the National Concert Hall’s Bernadette Greevy Bursary. While it is recognised that these competitions provide opportunities for performers from Ireland and abroad to raise their profile and further their career, the support arrangements are to be reviewed shortly in the light of growing demands and limited resources.
