National campaign for the Arts Petition 2009

[Christine Murray]

I am sure when the store is set that an adequate approach to funding will be discussed with those
who have an interest in the area, if FF radicalisation includes this type of summit, there's little hope:

Forum opposes gallery merger - The Irish Times - Thu, Nov 19, 2009

Art occurs at both a grassroot and developmental level, which I why I referred above to the fight
in Mayo regards bringing music to schools, in the past this service was founded by a small
group of people who gave us the school orchestras and feiseanna- thereby encouraging
talented members of the populace into artistic development and expression. The Government
are but stewards in what is a cultural and heritage issue. Their abysmal lack of understanding
of that role has led to an impasse of gargantuan proportions, typified by two minsters
who don't get that its not about influence/affluence; but about cultivation of excellence
and passing that on to the next generation.

(Dermot Ahern's Blasphemy legislation and some of Martin Cullen's appointments to the
Art's Council indicate that problem)

So in short response to Clanrickard's insertions above ^^^: Should not stakeholders have a say
in protest at cuts that are misdirected, ill-thought-out and wrongly targetted??

Everyone else who has interests in fund-cuts have had their say, why should the Art's
sector remain in silence and watch bad decisions being made on behalf of those who will
inherit a worsening situation??

[laidback]

I'm not signing - how can anyone support the retention of the artists income tax exemption scheme?

Asked revenue recently if artists exemption granted to Bertie for da buke - but they cant comment on individual cases.

[The Caped Cod]

Imagine how beautiful the world would be if nobody got paid for artistic activity. No economic considerations to limit the vision of creators. Imagine pure vocations, peopled only by genuine lovers of art. A truely egalitarian, cultural society. No fame industry. No parasitic "entreneurship". No hysteria. Nobody relying on the popularity of their creation to pay the rent. Just a bunch of 'part time' artists, painting pictures, writing songs and poems to try to get a little bit closer to understanding their lives.

All art should be local, and free. That's my dream.

So, as a lover of the arts, I will decline involvement with your petition.

That's all very nice. But hw do these part time artists live? You say you're a lover of the arts, but you don't think artist who create should reap any financial reward in a world run on finance. How will this artist pay for their material, let alone their personal expenses.
Taking your idea to it's logical conclusion, should everyone work for free. Politicians for the public good, professional sportsmen for the love of the game, busiess men for benefit of society and industry. Why is it the peole who generaly make the least until they either make it huge or die, who should make no money from their creations, creations often appreciated by art lovers like yourself?

[The Caped Cod]

I'm not signing - how can anyone support the retention of the artists income tax exemption scheme?

Asked revenue recently if artists exemption granted to Bertie for da buke - but they cant comment on individual cases.

I agree and disagree on that one. The tax exemption for artists is a great help to struggling artists, and has made Ireland a cultural haven (as well as a tax haven) for many atists.
That said, there should be a reasonable ceiling on it. Something like 3/4 of the industrial wage. It is unacceptable, especially to artists, to see someone like Paul "Proud of my heritage" Hewston ********************er Bono (his offial title) get away with paying tax when he is earning millions. The fact that Ahern would dare to call anything he put his hand to, "art". Unless you're coounting the Art of the Con.
The tax examption should apply to those who play in a pub 3 night a week or the painter selling his paintings on the sidewalk, or the writer who gets the occasional poem or short story published. Once your earning decent money you should pay tax.

[Harmonica]

Oh great another special interest group looking for handouts. Let the rich pay for the arts as they are the people that mainly use them.

[snacksandfizzydrinks]

i have no time for 'artists' that cannot sustain themselves perhaps struggling artists should consider a career change?

[The Caped Cod]

Oh great another special interest group looking for handouts. Let the rich pay for the arts as they are the people that mainly use them.

Then all you will get is art for the rich. How long do you think it was after Michaelangelo's commission before a working class person got to look at the ceiing of the Sistine chapel?
And so you don't have anything artistic in your house? No music or posters, no ornements no furniture, no books?

[laidback]

I agree and disagree on that one. The tax exemption for artists is a great help to struggling artists, and has made Ireland a cultural haven (as well as a tax haven) for many atists.
That said, there should be a reasonable ceiling on it. Something like 3/4 of the industrial wage. It is unacceptable, especially to artists, to see someone like Paul "Proud of my heritage" Hewston ********************er Bono (his offial title) get away with paying tax when he is earning millions. The fact that Ahern would dare to call anything he put his hand to, "art". Unless you're coounting the Art of the Con.
The tax examption should apply to those who play in a pub 3 night a week or the painter selling his paintings on the sidewalk, or the writer who gets the occasional poem or short story published. Once your earning decent money you should pay tax.

Struggling artists dont need tax exemptions because they aren't liable for tax in the first place. Something like 50% of workers are not liable for tax as in recent years tax credits/bands have been significantly increased. There is a cap now for artists at €250,000 - over that you pay - but Bono then moved his companies off shore.

I dont think its justifiable to exempt any occupation from tax. Other workers carry out essential and not pleasant work (like cleaning toilets for example) and they are liable. I do support grants for talented but low income individuals to develop their work - that is better for the arts than giving mega tax breaks to the likes of Bono and Cecelia Ahern and almost probably bertie for da buke. Incidentally bertie's partner in da buke academic Richard Aldous has tax exemption status.

[truthisfree]

Struggling artists dont need tax exemptions because they aren't liable for tax in the first place. Something like 50% of workers are not liable for tax as in recent years tax credits/bands have been significantly increased. There is a cap now for artists at €250,000 - over that you pay - but Bono then moved his companies off shore.

I dont think its justifiable to exempt any occupation from tax. Other workers carry out essential and not pleasant work (like cleaning toilets for example) and they are liable. I do support grants for talented but low income individuals to develop their work - that is better for the arts than giving mega tax breaks to the likes of Bono and Cecelia Ahern and almost probably bertie for da buke. Incidentally bertie's partner in da buke academic Richard Aldous has tax exemption status.

Agreed, there is abuse of the tax exemption and it certainly is not by struggling artists, it is by con-men like Bertie, it is a disgrace that he gets an exemption, who passes this exemption and under what criteria?

[Christine Murray]

Is someone actually saying that the Ahern is an artist???

anyway 9,632 sigs thus far : National Campaign for the Arts Petition