How the Arts are funded - do we know?

[Fred Johnston]

The recent ordering by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism (admittedly in a missive lurid with arts-speak) that major galleries should dumb-down their exhibitions begs questions about how independent the arts can remain if the government, through the Department or the Arts Council can 'punish' those organisations or individuals who are not in step with their eco-cultural strategies. When the Western Writers' Centre in Galway, of which I am Director, lost its Arts Council grant, it was made clear that it was at least in good part because of opinions I had published in local newspapers on the health of the Arts in Galway, copies of which had been e-mailed anonymously to the Council. The opinions I voiced were described as 'divisive.' (That the Council should even dream of acting on such Orwellian dross was deamed oddly not to be a story by The Irish Times who, in receipt of the relevant information, backed away without explanation from the piece.) It is perfectly clear that the Council carry out what can best be described as acts of retribution against organisations who question the authority upon which the Council holds court. Clearly too criticism of regional Arts Officers, funded to the toes by the Council, is also not welcome, nor is the founding of any project which threatens the will or the remit of these officers. So to whom does one take one's complaint? The Arts Council act with unseemly arrogance, even for a state body, and behave as if they are above questioning by mere artists or any other member of the public. And it is not beyond speculation that the Council, Dublin-based, Dublinocentric in thought, has the ear of the Dublin media when it comes to directing their views or, indeed, avoiding criticism. The status quo must remain intact and unquestioned. Certainly the Council do not want it known that they act upon e-mails sent in by anyone and anybody. The media seem to go along with this. Are the arts independent of government? No, in no real sense, so long as they are dependent upon government funding. And if one protests, one's funding may well be cut. Naturally, there isn't a minister in government willing to tackle them on any of this.

[jpc]

The luvvies can be very spiteful and intolerant of dissent it appears.
In addition their ability to dole out grants and patronage is going to be curtailed greatly in the current economic situation.
Maybe there is some of that going on?
As for ministers not acting. This ain't high profile, just intercine squabbling among the arts set.
Would you want to get involved in such a spat?

[Dios]

(That the Council should even dream of acting on such Orwellian dross was deamed oddly not to be a story by The Irish Times who, in receipt of the relevant information, backed away without explanation from the piece.)

The same shower of yahoos went after a man who was self-publishing a satirical periodical in the city a while back as well. While he was well within his rights to mock the council in a satirical fashion (and some of it was very funny), there was no way he could afford the court fees to fight their legal challenge, so he folded up. The burghers need to be taken down a notch or two methinks.

[Fluter]

Galleries told to be 'populist' - The Irish Times - Sat, Jul 11, 2009

Am including the original article on this in the IT on Saturday. As the letter memorably states:
"We would ask, however, that you and your board take a focussed opportunity to examine afresh whether all commercialisation and commodisation[sic] opportunities are being exploited to the maximum by you"

Problem is that arts institutions in Ireland do often rely on funding from the state. In the area of film/TV for instance the end result in terms of what is commissioned is boringly predictable.

The decrease in funds available, due to economic realities may lead to a more independent spirit for the arts, away from the likes of the Arts Council and its stringent policies. Which would be a very good thing.

[DerekOwens]

"We would ask, however, that you and your board take a focussed opportunity to examine afresh whether all commercialisation and commodisation[sic] opportunities are being exploited to the maximum by you"

Dear god. Somewhere, an English teacher is weeping.

@Fluter: You're absolutely right - well, one hopes!

[Christine Murray]

blame O Donoghue for the Arts Act 2003, which increased FF stranglehold on funding and appointments. The act and relevant debates can be gotten via the Oireachtas archive Houses of the Oireachtas, Parliament of Ireland - Tithe an Oireachtais

[jpc]

blame O Donoghue for the Arts Act 2003, which increased FF stranglehold on funding and appointments. The act and relevant debates can be gotten via the Oireachtas archive Houses of the Oireachtas, Parliament of Ireland - Tithe an Oireachtais

Ah we get to the root of the problem.
The peuse champion of South Kerry.

[Christine Murray]

O am sure he had not the wit to draft it himself ; but the board appointments of the present minister cannot even vocalise intellectual opposition to the blasphemy law. Thats what happens when you are bought and sold. (ask Gormley and de burQa)

[jpc]

Just remember his contribution in justice.
An extra half hours drinking up time.
Explains the subsequent career trajectory.

[Fred Johnston]

The same shower of yahoos went after a man who was self-publishing a satirical periodical in the city a while back as well. While he was well within his rights to mock the council in a satirical fashion (and some of it was very funny), there was no way he could afford the court fees to fight their legal challenge, so he folded up. The burghers need to be taken down a notch or two methinks.

What city did this happen in and what was the name of the publication? I see that The Irish Times' correspondent in Galway for the Galway Arts festival, reporting on last Sunday's Macnas parade virtually wrote a promo-piece. It took a local Galway journalist writing about the parade in a local paper to criticise it! I am apparently banned from writing book reviews for the IT, a thing I did for years.

What I find amazing is that Arts Council Chairman Pat Moylan can continue to go on about how much the Arts mean to the country, while presiding over the removal of major funding from the Irish Writers' Centre in Dublin and the Western Writers' Centre, Galway, and a host of other organisations. She was at it again at the opening of the refurbished Druid Theatre in Galway recently. I think the implication is that shattering the dreams and ambitions, not to mention the jobs, of artists in many disciplines, as she has overseen, is not the Council's fault!!!