Mr. Conor Falvey:

On the Venice Biennale, Eva Rothschild curated the Irish pavilion this year. It is supported by the Department in partnership with the Arts Council of Ireland. Representatives of both the Arts Council of Ireland and the Department, through Culture Ireland, attended the opening of the event in Venice. Culture Ireland also liaises with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in its primary role of supporting artists in travelling overseas to build audiences, establish networks and support their work. In that bilateral engagement it also engages on other matters. We primarily see the Arts Council of Northern Ireland as separate, but we do have a relationship with the agency in the Department that delivers that support. It will run until November this year. We were intending to provide the committee with information on showcase events supported by Culture Ireland and Irish artists who are being supported in travelling overseas, including to the Edinburgh festival and Venice, etc. For the information of the committee, in case there are events or showcase events that might be of interest-----