Acting director Cloake appointed to top position at the Arts Council

Ms Mary Cloake has been appointed as the new director of the Arts Council

Ms Mary Cloake has been appointed as the new director of the Arts Council. Ms Cloake, who was previously the council's development director and most recently its acting director, was appointed yesterday to succeed Ms Patricia Quinn, who resigned in March. Deirdre Falvey, Arts Editor, reports.

The appointment comes after months of speculation about the future direction of the council after the five-year arts plan, with which Ms Quinn was closely associated, was set aside. It was criticised for its "top-down" approach and for not meeting the needs of artists. Government funding to implement the plan was severely cut in 2003.

There were more than 30 applications, national and international, for the position of director, and six candidates were shortlisted. Ms Cloake, from Co Wexford, joined the Arts Council in 1993 as regional development officer and has been development director since 1997. She was arts officer in Dundalk Urban District Council, is a member of RTÉ's audience council and was appointed to the Bloomsday 100 Committee by the Minister, Mr O'Donoghue.

She is a member of the Arts Council's working group which will next month announce the principles upon which it will decide its 2005 expenditure. The formal process of consultation towards the development of a new plan is to begin this autumn.

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Ms Olive Braiden, chairwoman of the Arts Council, said the appointment represented real change in the council. Ms Cloake has a real understanding of "how people work and what they need to enable them to do their best work". She has "astounding" experience and "we are fortunate to have her". She said there has been a perception that it is difficult to communicate with the council, and she expects "a seachange" there.

In her statement, Ms Cloake said: "There is extraordinary work ongoing in the arts in Ireland. There is talent and ambition, which must be fostered and realised. The challenge is to create a changed role for the Arts Council, which will ensure that we seize the opportunity to respond. Council and staff together represent a truly dedicated team. I look forward to working very closely with them and with the arts community in my new role."