Budget 2016: Arts Council Chair Sheila Pratschke Incensed

The Chair of the Arts Council, Sheila Pratschke, has issued a statement on the the Arts Council allocation in Budget 2015 of €59.1m./
"It is with great disappointment that the Arts Council received its 2016 funding allocation of €59.1m.’The statement begins. "This is a devastating blow to artists and arts organisations already struggling to survive and present work of the highest quality to people across Ireland.
"At a time when we have just published an ambitious 10-year strategy, Making Great Art Work, focusing on the artist and public engagement in the arts, we had hoped that significant increased investment in the Arts Council would allow us to deliver on our role in supporting Ireland’s international standing as a leader in the arts."
Clearly the members of the Arts Council feel that the scope of their plan has been threatened by an allocation that was below what they had sought.
"Our new strategy commits to supporting new generations of ambitious and innovative artists," Pratschke continues, "as well as developing the arts in diverse communities across the country, ensuring that the arts are a valued feature of people’s lives. This allocation will challenge our capacity to deliver on this ambition.
"The Government continues to assert that Ireland is a hub of creativity, innovation and flexible thinking, and a smart place to invest in. Credible investment in the arts and culture sector is a vital demonstration of this commitment. I feel that the announcement of our funding today undermines that commitment."
The statement does, however, end on a slightly more optimistic note.
"However, despite this significant setback, we will continue to advocate for additional funding for the sector and to underline the importance of the arts to society, to communities, to Ireland's reputation abroad, to jobs and innovation and the attraction of international businesses to Ireland."