Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

434. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which the sector continues to attract support from philanthropists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4594/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Private support for the arts is an important funding source and the Government continues to support this through tax incentives and other initiatives. The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains a commitment to encourage strong, mutually beneficial links between the business community and the arts community to assist arts organisations to capitalise on sponsorship opportunities and to develop business partnerships and fundraising skills. In this regard, I recognise the important work carried out by Business to Arts for which my Department provides a small amount of assistance.

In addition, the Arts Council operates the RAISE programme, which seeks to enhance fund-raising skills in arts organisations with a view to diversifying the sector's sources of funding. It is designed to assist the sector in securing philanthropic contributions to the arts in Ireland.

In terms of other capital investment requiring co-funding, I have announced a new €9 million investment scheme for arts and cultural centres to run over the next three years, focussed on upgrading the existing stock of such centres around the country. The funding, which is being made available as part of the Capital Investment Framework 2016-2021,will be dependent on matching funding being secured by project promoters and will therefore provide an opportunity for philanthropists to involve themselves in the arts. I will be announcing the details of grants under this scheme very shortly.

The Deputy may also wish to know that, on December 8 last, the Taoiseach and I launched the Creative Ireland Programme/Clár Éire Ildánach as the Government’s Legacy Programme arising out of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and as the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025. The Creative Ireland Programmeis a high-level, high-ambition, all-of-Government initiative to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation.

My Department is now working to implement the Creative Ireland Programme with partners across Government and other key stakeholders. This includes delivery on an ambitious Year 1 Programme to deliver 10 initiatives by the end of 2017. Details of the Programme can be found on www.creative.ireland.ie.

It is hoped that this initiative will further stimulate private support for the arts.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

435. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plan and vision for the utilisation of Ireland's culture as an international national brand with consequent economic benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4595/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Culture Ireland, a division of my Department, was established in 2005 with a clear brand and focussed remit to promote Irish arts worldwide. The grant funding scheme is designed to support the presentation and promotion of Irish arts internationally, to raise the global awareness of the Irish arts sector, generate new career opportunities and develop new audiences abroad for Irish artists. Strategic priorities include providing support for the international presentation of Irish artists and arts organisations, developing new and diverse international audiences and markets for Irish arts, and linking culture into the Government’s international promotion strategy in tandem with other relevant Government Agencies.A budget of €3.5 million has been allocated to support the travel and travel related costs of artists in 2017 and this support will contribute to the strength of Ireland's reputation for creative excellence and make a significant impact on the arts internationally.

In addition to Culture Ireland, theCreative Ireland Programme, which the Taoiseach and I launched in December, places a special emphasis on unifying our Global reputation. Pillar 5 of the Programme - Unifying our Global Reputation- is about presenting a coherent representation of Ireland to the world as a creative people. This will seek to capture the overarching narrative of Ireland’s unique creativity and cultural heritage. The Government’s intentions in this regard were welcomed when I launched the Creative Ireland Programme on the international stage in New York on 13 January.