The Arts Council welcomes funding increase in Budget 2027

The Arts Council of Ireland have released a statement praising the government's increase in arts funding for Budget 2027. It was announced that €34.4 million would be allocated to to provide a full year of income support for artists.

The agency shared on their website that the increased funding will ensure that they can continue "supporting artists and arts organisations across the country to carry out their work, while ensuring access to, and participation in the arts is equitable for audiences throughout Ireland."

They also highlighted the government's ongoing schemes including; the Basic Income for the Arts, the arts infrastructure capital fund, investment in the National Cultural Institutions and a review of the performing arts tax credit.

Chair of the Arts Council, Maura McGrath said:

"This increase in funding is significant in the context of the Arts Council entering its 75th year in 2027, a milestone moment in the journey of the Arts Council that commemorates the beginning of state investment in the arts in Ireland.

"Today’s increase is a continuation of that living legacy, in which Government places arts and culture at the centre of Irish life."

In contrast, the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), criticised the budget. SIPTU General Secretary John King described it as a "chaotic budget providing little relief for workers.

He highlighted the potential dangers of the government using temporary subsidies to tackle the cost-of-living crisis:

"Workers can have no confidence that the Government’s chaotic budget strategy is going to provide meaningful measures to tackle the cost-of-living crisis that is eroding the value of their pay," he said.

"When temporary measures are withdrawn, workers will be left with the burden of meeting the high cost of living."

Sinn Féin criticised the budget in the Dáil yesterday. Their spokesperson on finance, Pearse Doherty said:

"Time and time again, this Government leaves ordinary Irish people behind, those who keep Ireland moving, those who work hard and who are trying to build a life.

"Your Government is hell-bent on making life harder with the choices that you make."

Following the potential introduction of a €100 Culture Card for sixteen year-olds to spend on arts and music venues, the voucher was not included in the budget.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said that "there won't be a culture card in 2027, and it's not funded in the allocation that's set out," following the budget's announcement.

Minister for Finance Simon Harris confirmed that the card was still in development:

"We're going to get it right, and it will be delivered and developed."