Arts Council
NOEL KELLY, CEO OF VISUAL ARTISTS IRELAND, REPORTS ON HOW THE FINDINGS OF VAI’S SURVEY ON PAYMENTS FOR VISUAL ARTISTS SHOW THE DIRECT RESULTS OF THE CUTTING OF PUBLIC FUNDING FOR THE ARTS.
“It is a good opportunity for you to have your work seen”
“We aren’t in a position to give you a fee but we would like to show your work”
“We can offer you a token gesture”
These types of statements have become more and more familiar as artists are approached to show their work in exhibition spaces. They have become clichés, and with them comes an expectation of understanding about the plight that venues find themselves in. This is not a new phenomenon but, in recent years, the payment of artists for their contribution to the national exhibition programme has sharply decreased. (more…)
INTO THE LIGHT: THE ARTS COUNCIL – 60 YEARS SUPPORTING THE ARTS
Mark Garry, Folds, 2010, ‘Into the Light’ Installation view, Model Niland, Sligo
Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
(4 Dec 2012 – 23 Feb 2013).
Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane
(28 Nov 2012 – 24 Feb 2013)
.
Limerick City Gallery
(30 Nov 2012 – 18 Jan 2013)
.
The Model, Sligo
(7 Dec 2012 – 24 March 2013).
‘Into the Light: The Arts Council – 60 Years of Supporting the Arts’ marks the sixtieth anniversary of the Arts Council and comprises a series of four exhibitions at Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Limerick City Gallery and The Model, Sligo, respectively. ‘Into the Light’ was developed by Lead Curator, Karen Downey and is accompanied by a publication, which features illustrations of works by over 100 artists and commissioned essays by Diarmaid Ferriter and Caoimhín MacGiolla Léith. Each of the four partner curators was invited to select works from the Arts Council collection to create a discrete exhibition that would reflect the interests and the ethos of each specific institution. Partner institutions were chosen, which themselves had a history of collecting and, in two cases, works from the institutions’ own collections are on view side by side with works from the Arts Council collection.
It is interesting that, although the four partner curators were free to select the works that they felt best reflected their own concerns, and a variety of curatorial approaches is certainly apparent, there are still some overarching themes that run through the four shows. For example, all four venues address the concept of the institutional frame, albeit from different perspectives. (more…)
To support our ASK! HAS THE ARTIST BEEN PAID? campaign, we have updated our Advocacy Datasheets to include Datasheet #7: Artists Payments. The purpose of this document is to outline the specifics around types of payments for artists, the outline of the current campaign for artist payments, and supply information and support material that will be of use to supporters wishing to advertise and participate in changing this inequitable situation.
The key objectives of the campaign are:
- Funding increase to cultural programming to support Arts Council, Arts Council Northern Ireland, Local Authority, and Borough funded spaces.
- Funding applications assessments to include clearly defined expectations regarding equitable payments to visual artists to support the planning, delivery, and supports required for exhibitions.
- Guidelines for payment rates for visual artists.
- Contractual obligations by all parties to be set in place at the beginning of each project that outline expectations of all parties and payment schedules for work completed.
- Payments to be made in full in a timely manner.
Further details can be found in the Advocacy Section of our website, or by contacting our Advocacy Officer Alex Davis.
Deadline: 21 March (5pm).
The Arts Council offers annual Project Awards across all artforms. It supports projects and initiatives commencing in 2013. All applications must be submitted through the online services website.
Culture Ireland, in partnership with the Arts Council, has issued an open call for the appointment of the Commissioner for the 14th Architecture Biennale in Venice in 2014. The Commissioner will manage and deliver the installation for next year’s Biennale, and a tour of the exhibition in Ireland following the Biennale.
The International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia – is the world’s most important international showcase for architecture and represents a unique opportunity to present and promote some of the very best of Irish architecture.
Culture Ireland and the Arts Council are supporting Ireland’s participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale, which aims to increase opportunities for Irish architects abroad. As well as serving as a global showcase for architecture, the Biennale allows Irish architects engage with international audiences, showcase their work, and influence future trends.
“While the situation for Irish architects has been difficult in recent times, initiatives such as the Venice Biennale are hugely important for Ireland and Irish architects, who continue to have a high reputation in the expanding global marketplace” said Jimmy Deenihan, TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
“The Arts Council is proud to support Ireland’s representation at the Venice Architecture Biennale once again in 2014. Ireland’s architects continue to gain enormous recognition on the international stage, bringing much attention to the dynamism of architectural and cultural practices in Ireland.” said Pat Moylan, Chairman of the Arts Council.
The deadline for Expressions of Interest for 2014 is 5pm on 4 March 2013. Details can be found on: www.cultureireland.ie and www.artscouncil.ie
Culture Connects is the culture programme marking Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 1 January – 30 June 2013.
Culture Ireland has co-ordinated a major programme presenting Irish artists and their works across all Member States, expanding the reach of Irish culture to new audiences, and building on the presence of Irish artists in key European festivals and venues, with a special focus on Brussels, Paris and Berlin.
Nationally, Culture Connects features major events presented by Ireland’s national cultural institutions, such as the Crawford Art Gallery Cork, the National Concert Hall and the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
In addition, the Arts Council has co-ordinated a programme of over 90 contemporary arts events and projects taking place country-wide, which has been financially supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The first strand of the Arts Council programme is called Local Arts Europe and it encompasses 23 partnership projects led by Local Authority Arts Offices and Ealaín na Gaeltachta that invest in artistic and professional relationships between Ireland and other places in Europe. The second strand of the Arts Council programme is called Féile Festa , which involves over 30 festivals and is all about connecting artists and audiences. In addition, a small number of large-scale festivals, such as the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, that take place during the Presidency period and that have an important role in terms of engaging extensive arts audiences, were invited directly to participate in the Féile Festa strand.
The final strand of the National Culture Programme is called Partners for Imagination and it showcases some of the arts organisations in Ireland that have been exceptionally committed to working across national borders in Europe to the benefit of artists, arts participants and audiences in Ireland.
The visual artists at the heart of Cló Ceardlann na gCnoc studios and gallery in Donegal have worked most recently with partners from Portugal and Greece to run Samkura, a co-operative project supported by the EU Culture Programme. During the Presidency, Cló Ceardlann na gCnoc presents an exhibition programme as well as a series of specialist workshops.
The National Sculpture Factory, in partnership with the Cork Civic Trust, the Cork Vision Centre and in association with the Crawford Art Gallery, presents works by artists featured in United States of Europe, a large scale visual art project brought about through transnational partnership, and supported by the EU Culture Programme.
The Partners for Imagination strand of Culture Connects will also feature networking and professional development events, in particular Visual Artists Ireland’s Get Together 2013, the Informal Meeting of the European Cultural Contact Points, and the Spring Plenary meeting of the IETM international network for contemporary performing arts.
Further information on Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU www.eu2013.ie
Further information on EU support for culture www.ccp.ie
The Arts Council has published a new policy and strategy in the area of Arts and Disability, which will assist it to address issues of equity, access and participation for artists and audiences with disabilities over a five year period. The new policy outlines the Arts Council’s support and understanding of Arts and Disability practice and the make-up of the sector. The policy is built on a set of key values including a commitment to equality and inclusion and recognition of the complexity and diversity of the people and practices involved. The strategy takes a holistic approach with measures designed to mainstream access alongside a series of strategic targeted supports and a programme to build capacity both within the Arts Council and across the arts sector. The publication of the policy and strategy follows a period of development and consultation with key stakeholders over a period of years, which broadened and intensified in 2012 as a means of capturing a wide range of perspectives. It is envisaged that the Arts Council and the sector will work together over the coming years to maximise the effects of the strategy and to inform wider policy and practice. For further information: www.artscouncil.ie/en/areas-of-work/actions/arts-participation-news.aspx
The ‘Into the Light‘ exhibitions of works from the Arts Council collection are now running in Crawford Art Gallery, Cork; Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane; Limerick City Gallery of Art; The Model, Sligo.
A major 370 page publication has also been published to coincide with the exhibitions. This is a standalone book, also called Into the Light, which charts the evolution of the visual arts through a significant period in Ireland’s history, from a fledgling state to a culturally confident nation. It features over one hundred full colour illustrations of works from the Arts Council Collection and contains specially commissioned essays by Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith and Diarmaid Ferriter.
The publication features a comprehensive directory of all works held in the Arts Council’s Collection, along with details of vendors from whom the works were bought. The directory also sheds light on the extent of the Collection’s nationwide loan programme and lists the many hundreds of public organisations that have chosen to borrow and present works over the years. Alongside the directory, essays and illustrations there are ‘timelines’ which focus on the development of the Arts Council and state policy on the arts and on Ireland’s emergent visual arts scene over that time.
The publication can be purchased for €40 at any of the exhibiting galleries, in addition to selected bookshops.
For further information on the exhibitions and the accompanying public programmes see the Arts Council’s or the galleries websites.
Minister Deenihan has confirmed that €60.7 million will be allocated for the Arts Council for 2013. This is a cut of 4% from 2012 funding which was €63.24 million. Minister Deenihan has confirmed that this amount will be allocated from current, capital and European Presidency funding. We are awaiting more clarification on this especially with regard to the European Presidency funding.
Minister Deenihan commented: ”The total allocation to the Arts Council for 2013 will be €60.7 million. This is the maximum possible funding that I can allocate to the Arts Council for next year, and is below the average reduction that I have had to apply across the board in my Department.“Arts Council supported organisations are a significant source of employment across the country. I anticipate this level of funding will continue to underpin this employment in the arts sector.”
Minister Deenihan commented: ”This is very good news. The extension of this scheme will give a great deal of certainty to the Irish audiovisual sector to the end of this decade. Moving to a tax credit model will be a significant change, but there is an extended lead in period to the new arrangements to enable the sector to adapt.
“This year alone a number of significant productions are filming in Ireland including Vikings with an spend in Ireland of €25 million, and Ripper Street with a spend of almost €11 million. The extension of the scheme is important for Ireland, for both the jobs that are supported by this sector and our location as a place for film and audiovisual investment.”
The Arts Council’s Annual Funding Programme for organisations is now open for applications. The application process has been greatly simplified for clients this year, following a sector-wide consultation and review undertaken by the Community Arts Partnership. Deadline: 4pm on Thursday 6th December 2012. For more info see: www.artscouncil-ni.org/award/asop.htm
In addition, The Small Grants programme, offering funding to voluntary and community groups to involve people in professionally-led arts projects, re-opens for applications later this month. Please check website for details.
