FIANNA Fail and the PDs are in, so we can sit back and watch the funds showering into the arts sector. "Fianna Fail," wrote the party's spokesperson on the arts, Sile de Valera, in her summary paper before the election, "has always had an enlightened approach to the development of the arts and will continue to ensure that the arts are properly funded."
Where once there was desert, now there will be gleaming new national arts institutions, according to Fianna Fail's plans: there will be a Screen Commission to market Ireland abroad as a location for filmmaking; there will be a National Cultural Institution to act as a forum for contact and discussion between the Minister for the Arts, the Heritage Council, the Arts Council and directors of national institutions; there will be a Music Commission to maximise the potential of the music industry; there will be a training centre for the performing arts established as a millennium project, and perhaps an opera house in tandem with this project; the National Theatre's status as a national institution will be confirmed and consideration will be given to funding it through the Department of the Arts, like IMMA and the National Concert Hall.
By now some may be wanting their desert back, thanks. While it is true that Fianna Fail had a far more impressive record on the arts than any other party until Labour's triumphs of the last five years, it mostly followed the old model of establishing centralised, State institutions: Aosdana might be seen as a successful example, though many could do without a lot of the ancient Gaelic imagery; the long axed Irish National Ballet in Cork would have to be seen as an unsuccessful example.
In recent years a new model of arts planning has emerged with a highly competent, specialised Arts Council being the control centre. This council - and any independent new council would likely be dismayed if major decisions on the arts infrastructure were taken by the Department. Its members would, no doubt be dismayed if scares funds were channelled towards creating national institutions which did not grow organically from the arts community, and did not best serve the interests of that community. This Arts Council is by no means convinced, for instance, that funding the National Theatre through the Department as a national institution is appropriate.
We will have to wait to see it the new Coalition honours ifs commitment to a Cabinet Ministry for the arts and if so, who it appoints. A new Arts Council must be appointed by the new Minister by the end of next year. It will be interesting in see how the relationship between the Minister and the council develops.
PD postscript: You don't hear Fianna Fail's partners, the Progressive Democrats, talking much abort the arts. It is unlikely they will have much of a role in developing arts policy in this administration but, before we sign off, let us remember one of the now unseated Mairin Quill's good ideas, she saw no reason why the Arts Council could not be decentralised through new technology to make it accessible all around the country. And nor do we.
