Artists joint campaign to retain exemption

Individual Irish artists yesterday joined the campaign to retain the tax exemption for artists, which is under review. The Arts Council has published a booklet profiling 10 artists' careers and how the exemption has enabled them to create artistic work.

At the publication novelist Anne Enright said: "I don't mind starving in a garret, but garrets are very expensive these days. And I can't ask my kids to starve in a garret. I couldn't continue to be a mother and an artist without the exemption. So if you want to silence people like me, writers who have kids, this is a good place to start."

Playwright Conor McPherson said the exemption was a civilised and enlightened policy that compensated somewhat for artists' lack of security, pensions, perks and how "it is difficult to afford to live in this country".

Composer Seoirse Bodley added that with "serious" arts, "it's important to realise people are not paid very well". His first orchestral piece was bought by RTÉ for £15.

He stressed that "high profile events can be very badly paid for the artist".

But because of the exemption, although artists may not be well paid, at least they get the benefit of it, Mr Bodley said.

Arts Council chairwoman Olive Braiden said this was "not a richman's relief" and that it didn't compare with other reliefs: "You can't put assets into writing a poetry book or a painting to get a tax exemption."

Council director Mary Cloake said the average earnings of half the beneficiaries in 2001 was €5,213, less than half the average industrial wage, and that only 2 per cent of artists would be considered high earners, mostly in popular music and writing.

The Arts Council has also begun a campaign to encourage people who feel strongly that the exemption should be retained to e-mail a "postcard" - to be found on the home page of www.artscouncil.ie to Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.