Arts Agencies Survive Budget Despite McCarthy

In particular, the Irish Film Board and Culture Ireland – which were recommended for extinction – as well as the Department itself, have come through with relatively little drop in their funding, representing a significant victory for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in what were very tough pre-budget negotiations.

"I think it is a victory for the Minister," one leading film maker told Hot Press. "He seems to understand the arts far better than his predecessor and has a genuine enthusiasm for what the arts delivers. I think that is reflected in the budget. A disaster had been threatened, but the end result is relatively healthy."

The main headlines are as follows:
* The overall allocation for the arts, culture and film area in 2010 is €166m as compared to €178m for 2009 – a 6% adjustment.
* Funding to the Arts Council, the State agency for the arts is €69.15m, a 6% reduction on the 2009 figure of €73.35m
* The Irish Film Board has been allocated €19.31m
* Culture Ireland has been allocated €4.083m.

"At the Global Irish Economic Forum held in Farmleigh in September," the Minister for the Arts Martin Cullen said in a statement, "there was wide acknowledgement of the importance of culture in promoting Ireland abroad and developing a unique brand for the country in new markets. Most participants agreed that our unique and strong cultural identity provides the Government and the private sector with a strong competitive advantage abroad. Internationally, the creative economy is moving centre stage and creativity is seen as a crucial bedrock, underpinning our knowledge economy. I am pleased that significant funding to support the arts is secured for 2010.

"The overall allocation for the arts, culture and film area in 2010 is €166m as compared to €178m for 2009 – a 6% adjustment. Even in more stringent times, overall funding for the arts is up 14% on 2005 levels.”

"The important tax relief scheme, Section 481, for investment in film and TV production is maintained
until at least 2012," the Minister added, "underpinning the Government’s commitment to the
importance of our indigenous Irish film and audiovisual sector.”

There was good news too for the related tourism sector, with a 2% increase in the tourism services budget over 2009, bringing the figure to €155million. While the Tourism MArketing allocation is down, the impact on marketing activities is likely to be negligible.

"Better value for money in purchasing advertising space, currency advantages and once-off expenditure in 2009 relating to the redevelopment of Tourism Brand Ireland will ensure that there is no adverse impact from the nominal reduction in the 2010 allocation," the Minister said.

While in general the response to the budget within the arts community is positive, there was some disquiet among those Hot Press spoke to about the fact that TG4's budget – allocated under the aegis of the Department of Communications – had been cut by €2 million. "It is the best TV station in the country," one leading independent film maker told Hot Press. "That will certainly impact on the independent production sector. The fact that the Irish Film Board survived and is still well funded is all the more important in that context."

For the complete text of the Minister's statement, click here