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Amid the current row about Arts Council funding cuts, Project Arts Centre director WILLIE WHITEargues that the council’s decisions process takes too long, and is overlooking a new generation of artists

ON A WINDY day last October I stood at the edge of a throng of journalists on the steps of Leinster House as they photographed a delegation on its way to speak to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport and Tourism. Later I sat in the public gallery listening to presentations from artists including Sebastian Barry, Colum McCann, Garry Hynes and Brendan Gleeson on the value created by public investment in art. There was a convivial atmosphere; we enjoy being in the company of our successful artists, and there was humorous banter between the senators and TDs as to whether The Generalor In Brugeswas their favourite Gleeson film. This was a familiar kind of occasion where leading artists command attention by leveraging their international reputations. Irish artists certainly have plenty to leverage with their Costa, Emmy, Golden Globe, Man Booker, Nobel, Olivier, Oscar, Pulitzer and Tony awards.