Martin Cullen has cut funding to two Writer's Centres.

[corelli]

These centres are about literacy and not all of the writers are actually involved
in exemption schemes. They are involved In Cúirt, literacy, education in schools
and other such projects. Cullen knows this and to my eternal shame I cannot believe
that Colm Toibín is part of that board.

The writers centres are spaces for Arts development and a minor % would be
exempted.

I think, though I can see your point, that "artists centres" will get little sympathy when faced with bed closures in Hospitals. It is a sad but true fact that priorities will have to adhered to.

[meriwether2]

Good. Writers earn tax free. They, or any other artist should get not one red cent from the tax payer. Let people who like the arts pay for them out of their own pocket not out of mine.

There's a recession.

Health and education is priority over everything, certainly including this.

[garlandgreen]

A culture and a society survives on the quality of it's art and writing. It's all too easy to pick on it as an easy target in times of trouble. It's an easy temptation to try and save money by taking it away from what is seen as something non-essential. I've revealed on another thread that I'm a civil servant. And that I'm willing to agree to a pay cut. This is one of the reasons. I don't know if I can write but I do read for pleasure. I'm obviously a well known atheist around these parts but I can certainly still conceptualise something like a soul. And that art, literature and poetry are it's lifeblood.

[Christine Murray]

Funny that the man funds other concerns in the Arts and co-opts wealthy unqualified
ladies to do jobs that they are manifestly unqualified for. He exhibits a lack of
coordination on issues of Heritage and Arts that is indicative of FF other interests.

( His work on both the NMA(2004) and the abolition of Duchás (2003) would attest to that.)

[corelli]

A culture and a society survives on the quality of it's art and writing. It's all too easy to pick on it as an easy target in times of trouble. It's an easy temptation to try and save money by taking it away from what is seen as something non-essential. I've revealed on another thread that I'm a civil servant. And that I'm willing to agree to a pay cut. This is one of the reasons. I don't know if I can write but I do read for pleasure. I'm obviously a well known atheist around these parts but I can certainly still conceptualise something like a soul. And that art, literature and poetry are it's lifeblood.

Well, without being trite, did Behan, Joyce etc etc have a tax exemption for their work and a nice writers centre all at Government expense. It's a simplistic argument but difficult to contradict. Are these centers really justified in times of such economic struggle?

We spend millions annually on such things, and other less deserving, and have no national opera, house or company.

[Christine Murray]

Corelli this thread is not about tax exemt writers. Read it . You are derailing it.

[garlandgreen]

Well, without being trite, did Behan, Joyce etc etc have a tax exemption for their work and a nice writers centre all at Government expense. It's a simplistic argument but difficult to contradict. Are these centers really justified in times of such economic struggle?

We spend millions annually on such things, and other less deserving, and have no national opera, house or company.

They did. But what other Joyces or Behans might we have had? I am a little bit conflicted about this to be honest. But I'm always wary of people who go after artists etc during hard times and I dislike the frivoulous tone in which it it done. We owe an awful lot more to these people than to the sneering rats who try to pull them down

[corelli]

corelli this thread is not about tax exemt writers. read it . you are derailing it.

Thanks for the REP but I get to differ. Artists get tax exemption for revenues derived from their work. Who do writers centers benefit if not writers? If it does not benefit writers why have it in the first instance?In such a circumstance it is another benefit which deprives the state of funds and as such in present circumstances it can be done without. I appreciate the cultural and societal benefit of the arts but it is way down the list of priorities!

[garlandgreen]

corelli this thread is not about tax exemt writers. read it . you are derailing it.

I wouldn't say intentially Dot. Corelli is a good poster and I'd rather be having this debate intelligently with him/her than some of the other jokers

[Christine Murray]

Do you know the work Johnson does in Galway? Have you heard of Cuirt.
Any awareness of the revenue that cultivating arts brings to tourism? l am sure that many would prefer Disney and Dion to lrish arts and heritage.