Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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323. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the average cost of funding art workspaces as part of the visual artists' workplace scheme; the number of locations funded by the scheme; the cost of the scheme; the list of locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18188/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Arts Council operates a number of schemes and initiatives have been established for the particular support of visual arts, including the Visual Artists Workspace Scheme.  This scheme is funded by the Arts Council and is administered on its behalf by Visual Artists Ireland.  I understand that under the scheme, Visual Artists Ireland invites applications for grants of up to a maximum of €40,000 (current funding) towards running costs such as light, heat, rent, artists’ development programmes, administration and/or appropriate salary costs. A proportion of support up to a maximum of 20% of the total request may be directed toward essential maintenance and equipment expenditure.

The purpose of the Visual Artists Workspace Scheme is to support artists’ workspaces throughout the country to provide the best possible working environment for visual artists and, where feasible, to enable a level of subsidy for the artists working in these spaces. I understand that the Arts Council announced grant awards totalling €221,000 in 2018 covering up to 19 different locations and 700 visual artists, further details can be accessed on the Arts Council newsletter at the following .

The Arts Council, which is independent in its funding decisions under the Arts Act 2003, operates the scheme within a published 10 year strategic framework entitled Making Great Art Work as well as its published Visual Arts Policy & Strategy and others. Further information on the scheme as well as the  Arts Council policies which support this scheme can be accessed on the Arts Council website at the following .

Practical information in relation to the Visual Artists Workspace Scheme may be accessed on the Visual Artists Ireland website at the following .