Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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690. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports available to young artists here to encourage their development and to encourage employment in arts and culture here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42219/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is the primary means through which the Government provides support for the arts sector including support for young artists. The Council's Strategy document entitled Making Great Art Work, which is being delivered through its Three-Year Plan 2017-2019, sets out its response to the changing nature of artistic practice and engagement with the arts including artists' support which is a defined category under its strategic investment plan. The Arts Council provides a range of schemes and initiatives for the development of young artists including the Next Generation artists award which aims to support promising artists across all disciplines at an early but pivotal stage in their career. Recipients can receive €20,000 and take part in a collective week-long residential programme in spring 2018. The Arts Council also funds bursary awards to artists. Bursaries support professional artists to develop their art practice and provide them with the time and resources to think, research, reflect and critically engage with their art.

In addition to this support my Department is leading the Creative Ireland Programme which is a cross-Government culture based programme designed to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. Participation and citizen engagement in creative activity is at the heart of the Programme. My Department provides funding of €2m across 31 local authorities to drive the Creative Ireland Programme at local level. The Department of Housing Planning and Local Government also provide funding of €1m towards this element of the Programme. This has led to increased opportunities for artists in communities across Ireland. In addition to this over €2m has been provided by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills to implement the measures set out in Creative Youth – the plan to enable the creative potential of every child and young person. One of the flagship projects is Creative Schools which will see 50 creative associates working with 150 schools across the country to develop to explore the potential impact of the arts and creativity on school life.

I recently announced funding of €1.2m for the National Creativity Fund 2018/2019 which will see 30 new creative partnerships developed with a range of organisations covering various types of projects including film visual art, architecture, heritage and others.

All of these measures support engagement and participation in creative activities and also support the development of young creatives and artists across the country.