Professor Kevin Rafter:

I will deal with some of the macro and board-type questions and Ms Kennelly will then chip in. We will work together.

As I said at the outset, the Arts Council has gone through a lot of change in a very short space of time. It has a new chairman. I have been in my position for only 17 months, and Ms Kennelly has been in hers only since April. Then Covid hit. We have seen a significant increase in funding. Thanks is due to all the political parties in the Oireachtas in that regard. In the space of 12 months, the budget has increased by 77%, notwithstanding that this is in the context of the Covid crisis. The increase has led to a significant increase in the ability of the Arts Council to deal with the sector to support artists. The board, in conjunction with the new director, is investigating organisational capacity. We have had a number of additional meetings in recent weeks in this regard. I assure members that the work is in train. It is the focus of the director, my focus as chairman and the focus of my board colleagues.

All the members have thanked us but thanks is also due to the staff of the arts Council, who have worked really hard since March to get money out to the sector. I was asked about money getting down to the ground. It has. It has got to the organisations. We were asked to make sure it gets to artists. That has been a priority, and that is the reason we have put a lot of the additional money into bursaries. It gives the artist the ability to have the headspace to work. That has been a priority, and it will continue to be one into 2021. The council is formulating budget plans for 2021 and determining where the money is to be spent. Some will be spent on increasing the capacity of existing schemes and there will be some new schemes. The director and her staff are in discussions with the sector. There has been ongoing communication across the art forms.

With regard to audience engagement, reopening is important. I hope we will have good news but there is no reason why galleries and art centres across the country should not be open. I was at the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August. Social distancing was adhered to at the performances and there were limited numbers. The organisers did a tremendous, safe job. The arts sector can deliver in this regard and it has shown that it can live with Covid and keep the doors open. We are minded to believe that, irrespective of levels, the sector should be trusted to open the venues for the public.

Deputy Cannon mentioned the Clifden Arts Festival. It is one of the first events I attended as chairman of the Arts Council. Regional spread is important to the council.

Regarding collaboration with local authorities, the authorities put about €30 million plus into the arts. It is important that they continue with this expenditure in 2021 and that it works alongside the increased expenditure by the Arts Council. There is a good, positive relationship between the council and the local authorities. We co-fund arts centres, bursaries, and residencies. That relationship is exceedingly important. It helps to get money into the hands of artists.

I realise other issues were raised but perhaps Ms Kennelly could contribute before I contribute again.