Ms Loretta Yurick:

We are no longer funded in dance but in arts participation. Once a year, we apply for funding for two years, but this year we got it for one year. The Arts Council has, just in the past couple of years, begun to offer more two-year funding for companies. Many companies were subject to cutbacks. CoisCéim and a few other companies were left, and some newer companies are coming up. They are operating on a project-to-project basis. Dance Ireland, a resource organisation, tries to nurture and offer opportunities for the creation of work. We are all collaborative. Dance is collaborative. We are working with musicians, designers, visual artists and poets. The work is across the board. This is not new and has been going on since the beginning of time. It is all collaborative. How does one sustain this work? I take on board what was said in that we need champions. Dance Ireland is supposed to be the voice with the Government. I am sure it is trying.