Arts Council funding lacks regional balance

A value-for-money review of Arts Council funding has called for better regional balance in the way funding is distributed.

In a broadly positive review published by Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys, the Arts Council is urged to consider how its annual programme can be used to enhance opportunities for people in all counties to access and participate in the arts.

“The below average per capita funding in the rest of Leinster (outside of the four Dublin local authorities) warrants further examination, as do the relatively poor showing of much of Munster (outside of Cork city and Limerick) and Connaught (outside of Galway city and Sligo),” the review said.

The Arts Council is the national agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland.

Five in excess

An examination of its distribution of supports by local authority in 2012 revealed that Meath, Wexford, Cork city, Galway city and Dublin city received total funding awards in excess of the average figure of €1.6 million.

Of these, Dublin received far in excess of the average at €27 million, of which €7.1 million is invested annually in the Abbey Theatre.

The report noted a number of limitations to its analysis, which did not account for the fact that funding is more likely to be directed towards existing arts infrastructure, which does not exist in all counties.

The review also called for improved transparency in the Arts Council’s decision-making processes. It recommended consideration be given to operating recurring funding schemes on an open rather than an invitation-only basis.

Council chairwoman Sheila Pratschke said the report recognised the significant effort made by the agency despite challenges in its operating environment.

Remain flexible

“We will build on the findings of this report,” she said, “as we launch our own 10-year strategy 2016-2025, to ensure that we remain flexible and responsive to the needs of artists, arts organisations and communities across the country in our role to lead the development of the arts in Ireland.”

The Arts Council was commended for performing well over a difficult period and praised “for rising to the challenge of improving its approach to its work during a difficult period in the history of the State”.

The review focused on the years 2009-2012, a period, it noted, with severe constraints on public funding, “while at the same time the calls on that funding increased”.

The review group was chaired by John O’Hagan, professor of economics at Trinity College Dublin.

The group included senior personnel from the Arts Council and the departments of Arts, Public Expenditure and Reform and Justice.

Ms Humphreys said the report highlighted a number of areas where there was “room for improvement”, including “meaningful ways which could improve the level of transparency around the Arts Council’s decision-making processes”.

The Arts Council will receive nearly €60 million in Government funding this year.