Written answers

Thursday, 24 February 2022

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Arts Policy

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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33. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider developing a register for artists, performers, crew and technicians and all those working in arts and culture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10515/22]

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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While my Department has no proposal at present to develop a register for people working in the arts and culture sectors, which would be a complex task having regard to the definition of the arts set out in the Art Act 2003, it does have regard to data available from the Central Statistics Office using the standard EU classification system of NACE Codes, which can be used to analyse and interpret sectoral economic trends across the sectors that fall within the remit of my Department, including the arts.

My Departments’ priorities are set out in its published Statement of Strategy 2021—2023.The overarching goal is to ensure the “sectors recover and grow in a manner that underpins social cohesion and supports strong, sustainable economic growth, with a focus on a number of cross cutting goals of equality, diversity, social inclusion, the Irish language and environmental sustainability”. The Statement of Strategy is available at this link: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/9205f-statement-of-strategy-20212023/

In the context of culture, the goal is to “support and develop engagement with, and in arts, culture and creativity by individuals and communities thereby enriching lives through cultural activity; and to promote Ireland’s arts, culture and creativity globally while also coordinating the Decade of Centenaries 2012–2023 commemorations programme.” One of the intended outcomes is “to cultivate Irish artistic and creative talent and enhance Ireland’s reputation as a hub of artistic excellence.”

As independent State bodies under the aegis of my Department, the Arts Council and Screen Ireland have strategies for capacity development contained in their strategic plans. Screen Ireland’s strategy was launched in 2021 and includes a strategic objective to invest in the talent and skills required for the future success of the industry through supporting capacity development, with diversity, equity and inclusion at its core. A key action listed is toprovide a digital platform to capture workforce data, supporting the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry".

The Arts Council’s 10 years strategic plan Making Great Art Worksets out five priority areas, each with a distinct goal - The Artist’ ‘Public Engagement', ‘Investment Strategy’, ‘Spatial and Demographic Planning’, and ‘Developing Capacity’. In the context of the Developing Capacity the goal is that the Arts Council and the arts sector have the knowledge, skills and inventiveness to realise this strategy. A key objective is to ensure “the arts sector is skilled, resourceful and committed to its own renewal”.

The report of the Oversight Committee on the implementation of the recommendations made in the Life Worth Living Report states that over 75% of the recommendations are implemented. Significant work has been done to realise this as a practical and substantial support for the arts and cultural sector.

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