Ms Aideen Howard:

I thank the Deputy. Like all other arts organisations, we had the experience of moving online very rapidly last March and April. Although we never wished to be in a situation like that, we found that we were able to numerically reach more children and reach geographically further than we had ever done before. We now have a national reach, which is very welcome. Our principle is that children have a right to art and culture and if that is the case, then it is our job to deliver it as widely as possible. Technology has enabled that for us.

We did, however, experience what we now know as the digital divide. There were children who were able to participate in our programmes because they had access to technology, broadband and so on and others who did not. We have been conscious about this in continuing our hybrid programming for the future. We will think about very carefully going forward.

Second, as an arts organisation, I believe we were well positioned. We have great relationships with schools. While in the past, art and culture may have been seen as a luxury item to be fitted into teachers’ very busy and packed curriculum, we discovered that we are now an essential item. We were gratefully received by teachers who were engaged in remote teaching, with 30 children in different locations, and also when moved back into the classrooms and were able to deliver summer provision in July. This was a provision for children in particular circumstances. We were then able to use the technology we had developed to Zoom in to whiteboards in schools. There is much scope for children and for the State’s systematic delivery of the children's right to art and culture. We now know that there are a lot of enablers in terms of technology. However, we all wish to be able to be in the same space at the same time in future. We are committed to doing both, as of the autumn.