Written answers

Thursday, 17 February 2005

Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism

Arts Funding

5:00 pm

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount which has been spent on supporting Irish cultural activities abroad over the past five years; the criteria being used in assessing such activities; if an analysis has been carried out of the way in which other countries promote themselves and their artists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5162/05]

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The cultural relations committee supports Irish artists who wish to work or exhibit abroad. It was transferred to my Department from the Department of Foreign Affairs from 1 January 2002. Since then, the committee has had the following amounts at its disposal: 2002, €700,000; 2003; €700,000; 2004, €700,000.

My Department has directly managed a major cultural exchange with China, the overseas elements of which cost €706,000 in 2003 and €1.7 million in 2004. My Department was also responsible for the cultural programme run in conjunction with Ireland's EU Presidency, the overseas costs of which came to €94,000 in 2003 and €680,000 in 2004.

The elements supported by the committee, and included in the Chinese exchange or the EU cultural programme, were selected on the basis of artistic merit, on the basis of the overall benefits to the arts in Ireland, or where applicable, on the basis of the practical requirements of the context in operation. I will shortly announce a new body to replace the cultural relations committee, which will have a budget of €2 million for 2005. This follows an analysis of how the Irish arts might best be advanced internationally, which included a comparative analysis of the models and approaches that operate in other relevant countries.

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