Seanad debates
Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Arts Policy
10:30 am
Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State for being here. I received apologies from the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, which I appreciate.
I want to get a sense of what the Government is doing on workspaces for artists. The availability of workspaces for artists throughout the country in both urban and rural areas has been an issue for as long as I can remember. A recent Dublin City Council audit found that there are only 529 workspaces in Dublin. That needs to be considered in the context of a city that has a 17% office vacancy rate, which shows how unjust it seems to be.
There is a market failure in the arts, which need Government support. I welcome the chance to get an overview from Government. The Department needs to do more in this regard. There is a consensus based on work Dublin City Council has done on this. The creative and cultural sector can be characterised by very out-of-date research. I commend the work that councillors in Dublin city have done in pushing for an audit and changing the development plan in respect of artists' workspaces, and engaging with artists and communities in the Liberties around Bridgefoot Street and Merchant's Quay artists' workspaces. I am sure the Minister of State will mention that Government money is going into that. It is clear that we now need a once-in-a-generation investment in artists' workspaces.
The national cultural institutions are central to the Project Ireland plan. We need specific investment over a five-year term in artists' workspaces to ensure that this problem no longer exists. We need to have plenty of artists' workspaces to encourage them to stay here in Ireland to combat the creative of our artists going to Glasgow, London, Berlin and elsewhere to find work and to find space. I put this all in the context of the office vacancy rate that exists, but also in the context of the investment the Department of culture and Government will make in the national cultural institutions and in ensuring that we can maximise the artists' workspaces in those institutions.
James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising this very important issue regarding the need for the Minister for culture to outline what actions are being taken to address the acute urgent need for artists' workspaces across the State. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, who sends her apologies.She is aware of the pressures that artists and creatives face in finding suitable workspaces, especially in Dublin, and the difficulties with the provision of artistic venues there. Last June, she announced, along with the Lord Mayor of Dublin, details of a €9 million capital works programme called Space to Create. In this case, the Minister announced that €3 million in funding was being provided by her Department to this initiative. The Space to Create project will see 60 artists provided with turnkey workspaces as well as opportunities to use performance and gallery space and flexible office spaces. This funding speaks to the Government's commitment under the programme for Government to increase the provision of affordable workspaces for artists and creative practitioners and ensure the timely delivery of arts and culture investment commitments as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
Budget 2023 provided a separate allocation of €7 million for the provision of artists' workspaces. It is now proposed that a new capital scheme will soon be opened by the Department to progress this proposal. Under this scheme, local authorities will be invited to apply for funding towards projects that provide artists' workspaces in their towns or cities nationwide on a sustainable basis.
In recent years, other arts and culture capital schemes have been rolled out by the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, and her Department. While the primary focus of these schemes is towards the refurbishment and enhancement of existing arts and culture facilities, funding is also being provided towards the provision of additional working spaces for artists in these buildings. A new pilot capital support scheme for arts, culture and the night-time economy will support the development of vibrant late night arts and culture scenes in Irish cities, particularly in Dublin city, towns and villages. This will also provide additional capital to assist artists through the provision of building and equipment needs.
The Arts Council currently provides programming and revenue supports to a range of initiatives such as arts centres and residencies, required to sustain artists nationwide. Record funding of €134 million annual funding for the Arts Council is in place for 2024. The Arts Council is also currently developing, with the Dublin Port Company, the possibility of creating artists' workspaces in buildings in the port area.
Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein)
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I certainly welcome the €9 million. What is probably needed is a longer term strategy that indicates over a government's term how much would be invested in this space, and also to get a sense of how much space is needed. The only audit that has taken place is by Dublin City Council. I wonder if the Arts Council or the Department has done that work. There is empty space everywhere - in private office blocks, public buildings, departmental buildings, and I am sure there is a huge amount of spare space in RTÉ and above shops.
I welcome the memorandum of understanding between the Arts Council and the Dublin Port Company on their intention to repurpose buildings at the Odlums flour mills site at Dublin Port and to turn it into an artists' workspace and campus. That was announced in 2022. At the time the Arts Council said it hoped it would be open by the start of 2025 and that 50 artists' studios would be available there. Is that on track and what is the timescale for it?
I will write to the Minister and thank her for her statement. I thank the Minister of State for delivering it here on her behalf. I will also write to her about the need for an overall national strategy.
James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I hope that I have provided an overview for the Senator of the work being carried out the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. I do not have specific answers to the more detailed questions but I will certainly raise them with the Minister. There has been sustained investment in arts and culture in recent years and in budget 2024 a total of €367.406 million was provided for arts and culture elements of the Department's budget, an increase of €10.424 million from €356.982 million in 2023.
I thank Senator Warfield. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Martin, would join with me in thanking him in particular, as well as other Seanad colleagues for their engagement on this matter.