It was a year of acrimony in the arts as a result of the funding cutbacks many organisations faced at the beginning of 2003. But the year ended with relief when many of these groups had their finances restored to pre-cutback levels. Along the way, the sector learned useful lessons in the value of lobbying and using its voice.
The Minister for Arts, Mr O'Donoghue, was active on several fronts, and impressively so. He may have had little to say on arts policy but his actions have shown a commitment and an ability to listen.
The appointment of his first Arts Council drew plaudits for the inclusion of a diverse and impressive range of experience. But his most significant achievement was, of course, the delivery of additional funding that brings investment in the arts back within targets set out in the Arts Plan 2002-2006. This blueprint for development is behind schedule and revision seems the only sensible outcome of the "comprehensive mid-term review" that has been signalled.
The Minister inherited a contentious Arts Bill from his predecessor and, before enactment, agreed to dismantle at least some of those elements, particularly the proposed Standing Committees, that gave rise to concern and protest. He did not, however, compromise on the new supremacy granted to the Minister in handing down policy. In this regard, the legislation is fatally flawed. He must address also the omission from the legislation of a statement of policy on how the arts can be nurtured within the education system.
The year ahead offers several occasions for cultural celebration: the centenaries of Joyce's Bloomsday and the birth of Patrick Kavanagh, the 150th anniversary of the National Gallery, and two programmes of cultural exchange - one between Ireland and the new EU accession countries, and a major festival of Irish art in China which will be reciprocated with the visit here of an exposition of Chinese culture.
Next year's cultural highlight should be the centenary of our National Theatre, but it takes place in the dismal shadow of continuing doubt about the future of that institution. It took 16 years for the completion of the project that gave us its present inadequate home. As an alternative to rebuilding the current premises, the Carlton site in O'Connell Street offers a greenfield location that could provide everything and more that a new National Theatre requires - as well as leaving a landmark cultural development where it is badly needed in the heart of the capital. Such a decision in 2004 would also leave a lasting legacy for Mr O'Donoghue.