Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

977. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the lack of artist run studio space and the fact that the State lags far behind other European countries in this regard. [28083/17]

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

I am aware of the issue regarding the provision of affordable studio space, particularly as a result of the changing property market.  In general, I would consider that local approaches driven by artists, local arts officers and the owners of vacant buildings are best suited to respond to the specific local circumstances involved and provide the most effective outcomes.My Department is involved in ongoing discussions with the Arts Council, Dublin City Council and the OPW to consider some possible short-term and longer-term approaches to the issue, both in relation to specific issues in Dublin and to wider national approaches. In addition, as part of the Government’s initiative on the North East Inner City, I awarded a grant of €35,000 last year to Fire Station Artists' Studios, Buckingham Street, to assist in providing additional studio space in conjunction with Dublin City Council.

In terms of investment by my Department, I recently announced details of more than €9 million in capital funding for 61 arts and culture centres across the country. This capital scheme is the most significant investment in arts and cultural centres in a decade and will target investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and creative spaces. Eight of grants relate to artist studios and creative spaces amounting to a total of €850,000. These are set out in the table below.

A full list of organisations to benefit from funding under Stream 1 and 2 of the Arts and Cultural Capital Scheme 2016-2018 is available on my Department's website.

I recently announced a new capital grants Scheme which will provide grants of up to €20,000 to not-for-profit organisations with a defined arts and cultural remit. Organisations with artists' studios will also be eligible to apply under this Scheme. The closing date for this Scheme was Friday 16 June and I hope to make announcements shortly in this regard.

Artists' studios and creative spaces funded under the Arts and Cultural Capital Scheme