Professor Sarah Glennie:

On the question of evaluation, until last Novemeber I was the director of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. I am now the director of the NCAD; therefore, I have worked between two departments. Since taking over as director of the NCAD, having regard to the relationship with the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Education and Skills, what is expected of us is much clearer. There is a very clear policy framework under which we operate. There is also a very developed conversation about what our role is in that policy framework. It may not be a policy with which we always agree, but there is a very clear set of objectives. As the director of a national cultural institution, there was no real evaluation because there is still an absolute absence of policy at national level on what is expected from the arts sector. The conversation about evaluation did not happen.

I also say, more generally , in terms of a conversation about participation, that it is very important to think about how it can be supported. To echo a little of what Dr. Byrne said, it has to be seen in a broader, more holistic sense than just numbers. What is often left out in these conversations is consideration of supports for those who are making the culture in which we want people to participate. Recently much emphasis has been placed on support of participation in enabling audiences which is incredibly important, but it must be balanced by support for the makers. Speaking for an education institute that is making the future makers, we want them to be able to come to a country where our artists can sustain a viable practice and stay here. Many artists leave because currently it is a very difficult place in which to maintain a professional practice. We are in jeopardy of losing generations of artists. We have all heard about the value of the work all of our artists across all sectors contribute to society. That is very much lost in much of the discussion on arts funding and the thinking about the arts in Ireland.