Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Professor Rafter and Ms Kennelly. Talking about the resilience of artists is important.

I welcome the ESRI report yesterday on cultural activities for teenagers. Perhaps the committee could have a separate meeting to discuss that important report on engaging teenagers and young people.

I will put a couple of direct questions. The Government commitment was clearly shown through the additional €50 million that will be provided next year. One of our key concerns is that this funding gets into the hands of artists, artistic communities and venues. Does the Arts Council have the capacity to ensure that happens and can the witnesses give us an assurance in that regard?

The role of the arts in rebuilding our communities will be very important. Professor Rafter mentioned the important role the arts have played in helping us through this period. As we emerge from Covid, the ability to socialise again will be a challenge. I want him to talk about that, particularly capacity-building in community arts organisations.

The community and voluntary sectors in the arts have also been hit in a particularly big way. I endorse the call with regard to galleries, theatres and arts centres being reopened. We could go into the National Gallery next door and we are more on top of people in a supermarket than we would be there. The space is there and it serves an important cultural function.

I have raised with the Department the ability of international performers and artists to travel and be treated in the same way as elite sports people so they would be allowed to travel for recitals or performances. The Department seems to be very reluctant to grant them this particular status. It is an issue of concern for a number of the major festivals.