Irish Government to allocate €25M extra Covid support for Arts & Culture

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar and Minister for Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan have announced €25 million in extra supports to help the Arts and Culture sector recover from the Covid19 Emergency.

The funding will include bursaries and commissions to artists and arts organisations, and resources for museums and culture workers as they prepare for the re-opening of society. This is brand new funding, coming on top of funding previously allocated to the sector.

A total of €20 million will be allocated to the Arts Council bringing its allocation this year to €100 million.  

A further €5 million will be available for other measures, including securing the future of key cultural and museum spaces and facilities throughout Ireland, and the production of high-quality digital art and on-line performances.

Among the measures that will be introduced will be new bursaries and commissions from the Arts Council, including supports for freelance artists and those looking to develop projects on a collaborative basis.  The Department will provide supports for cultural centres including local and regional museums, as well as for new online cultural and creative content to build on the success of programmes such as Ireland Performs, the Other Voices Courage programme and Cruinniú na nÓg.

The Department is also working closely with the National Cultural Institutions to address issues arising from the crisis.   The Department of an Taoiseach and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will also convene a meeting of relevant representatives from the public and private sector to discuss how to protect and sustain the arts and culture sector through the Covid19 recovery and beyond, recognising that the issues faced by venues as well as artists in an era where mass gatherings are restricted, are unique and will be problematic for quite some time.