Philanthropy row at debate on presidency

ARTS AND CULTURE:THE FIRST presidential election debate with four of the five declared candidates focused on arts and culture in relation to the presidency, but developed into a row about philanthropy.

Independent Mary Davis said she would create a presidential medal for philanthropy, while Labour candidate Michael D Higgins said he had a fundamental problem with such private donations. They had their place “on the periphery”, but the arts were central to public life and should be funded as such, he said.

The Culture Night debate at the Irish Film Institute in Dublin centred on what the role of the president should be in relation to arts and culture.

During the discussion, when candidates were asked about arts and funding, Ms Davis said it was essential to fund the arts “and if we can’t get it through Government we should get it through philanthropy, and as president I would be delighted to seek funding through philanthropy”.

She also pledged to ensure there would be cultural representation on all trade missions abroad through cultural ambassadors.

Ms Davis would look towards philanthropy and to creating a medal for philanthropy for individuals and organisations.

Asked by moderator Olivia O’Leary how far could a president go in asking industrialists to “cough up”, she insisted there was a role for such private funding, and suggested it would be more fitting to call Áras an Uachtaráin “Teach na Daoine” (the People’s House).

The chief executive of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, Ms Davis brought the first Special Olympic Games outside the US to Ireland in 2003, with government and private sponsorship.

Patron of the games businessman Denis O’Brien was one of the major sponsors.

Mr Higgins said “the debate has moved from arts to the role of culture to the role of the creative industry, and they are not the same”. He asked: “Why do we want artists to be poor in order to be brilliant?”

Dublin Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell warned the audience of about 150 people, mainly from the arts community, that they should not expect candidates to “tell you what you want to hear” when asked about funding.

Mr Mitchell, who as lord mayor of Dublin was responsible for the introduction of the Dublin Impac literary awards, said the arts had to be inclusive, and “like being pregnant, you can’t be a little bit inclusive”.

However, he said, the Government was spending €13 billion more than it was taking in, and “in those circumstances there is a role for philanthropy. The State cannot do everything.”

Businessman Seán Gallagher said: “I want to do for enterprise and for jobs what Mary McAleese has done for the peace process.”

He renewed the call for a proper honours system in Ireland which would be presented through the presidency, and suggested there should be an annual president’s exhibition, similar to the annual Texaco art exhibition.

More people could be encouraged to participate in the arts through the current President’s (An Gaisce) awards, he said.