Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 7: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the way he is promoting accessibility to the arts for all sectors of society in Government owned and sponsored institutions and organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10837/08]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism further to Question No. 61 of 25 October 2007, the progress made towards extending the opening hours of national museums and galleries; when these extended opening times will take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10824/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 9 together.

Government policy on the arts is set out in the programme for Government and elaborated further in my Department's statement of strategy and my recently published arts and culture plan 2008. One of the stated objectives of this policy is to encourage and support the strategic development of the arts in geographic communities and communities of interest for the disadvantaged and for minority groups. My policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access and participation and make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life. Consequently, all funding allocated by my Department to the arts is aimed at, inter alia, addressing the issues of cultural participation, access and social inclusion.

Provision is made within the annual funding allocations to the national cultural institutions for education and outreach programmes, which are a key element in addressing and promoting accessibility for all sectors of society. Within these institutions, education and outreach programmes are aimed particularly at disadvantaged sections of society. The institutions are also actively engaged in promoting accessibility through primary and secondary school programmes, in many cases targeting schools designated as disadvantaged.

My Department and the agencies under its remit are also considering the recent ESRI report, In the Frame or Out of the Picture: a Statistical Analysis of Public Involvement in the Arts, in the context of the accessibility question. In September 2007 I announced proposals for more flexible opening hours in the national cultural institutions, and especially the national museums and galleries, to reflect the changed lifestyles of those who wish to visit. I am particularly anxious to extend Sunday opening hours and to arrange for late openings at least one night per week. The funding allocated to the national cultural institutions for 2008 includes additional funding to facilitate these extended opening hours. Significant progress is being made on this issue and Sunday opening will be in place at the main institutions, with the exception of the National Library, from this May.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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The NESF report, The Arts, Cultural Inclusion and Social Cohesion, and the report to which the Minister referred, In the Frame or Out of the Picture, have indicated clearly that people from disadvantaged socioeconomic or educational backgrounds are less likely to access arts facilities. I am concerned that much of what the Minister said was aspirational, with little delivery thus far on his objectives. I welcome his comments on outreach but much more can be done, such as reduced ticket prices or family entrance fees. Involvement with local government on promoting the arts should be encouraged.

In reply to a parliamentary question put in October, he stated that a strategy committee was to be established. What exactly has happened in that regard, apart from the establishment of the committee? I fear we will have a recurrence of the arts in education report, in respect of which we are still awaiting action after 18 months.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The NESF report, about which I have spoken publicly, points out that access to the arts is an issue and artistic exclusion is as painful in many ways as social exclusion. I fully accept that and intend to work towards the solutions it suggests.

Other issues arise regarding, for example, access by non-nationals to the artistic world in a strategic context. I recently published the Department's plan for 2008, which addresses in detail the issue of access in the context of opening hours, forthcoming events and what agencies are doing to ensure more structured access to the arts. That plan and the Department's strategy will continue to press for greater access to the arts.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Dublin City Council organised a successful culture night during which access was free to theatres and all cultural facilities under the council's remit. I understand the event will be repeated this year. Does the Minister see a role for himself in encouraging local authorities and arts venues to participate in a national culture week? Access also requires awareness because the reason people do not participate is often that they are unaware of what is going on or are not conscious of art galleries and museums. They may not realise a play is being staged down the road in The New Theatre. Is there anything the Minister can do to ensure there is a national advertising campaign for such a week which would go a long way towards introducing people to the arts, perhaps for the first time?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Yes. On page five of the Arts and Culture Plan 2008, I propose a national cultural day in order to welcome a new audience. It is debatable whether it can be expanded beyond a day or whether it should be focused on a few hours. The concept of focusing in this way is almost simplistic but it highlights the importance of a national cultural day. It can be put together along the lines of the city council's successful evening some months back when it focused on a few hours; because it highlighted those few hours the cultural institutions got a huge response with which they were very happy. I hope to be able to proceed with the national cultural day I proposed in the document during the summer, if not sooner.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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My first point is along the lines outlined by Deputy Mitchell on advertising and informing people. A greater effort is required at local level. A case can also be made for a national television campaign to keep people informed and aware of what is going on. For example, airports can be useful from a tourism point of view in terms of galleries and museums and when they are open.

An interesting statistic from the In the Frame report was that ethnic minorities do not interact very much with the arts other than through churches. Perhaps this is an opening through which the arts can be promoted and encouraged. We can all examine how that approach can be further used to encourage ethnic minorities and the population in general to engage more in the arts.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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That is a useful suggestion which I will examine more closely.