Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Arts Council receives funding from my Department but it is independent. It recently published a strategic review of its work, entitled Inspiring Prospects, which was undertaken by a steering group, with Mr. Terence O’Rourke as the independent chairman. I look forward to reading this report in more detail and assimilating its implications. The review and the process underlying it should allow the Arts Council to reflect on whether it delivers the best service it can to the arts sector and the public. Inspiring Prospects is timely in that it should contribute to the process of developing a new national cultural strategy, which the Government has recently agreed. The report is available on the Arts Council’s website at .

Although I have been in this job for only a couple of days, I hope to meet shortly the new chairman of the council, Ms Sheila Pratschke, and the director, Ms Orlaith McBride.

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