National Campaign For The Arts Meets Minister To Discuss Budget Impact On Arts And Present Petition Of 10,000 Signatures

 

November 2009 -  A delegation from The National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA) met with Minister for Arts, Martin Cullen TD, this afternoon (Wed 25 Nov 2009) to discuss the devastating impact further cuts to the arts would have on the sector and called on Minister Cullen to bring the demands of the NCFA to the Cabinet. 

The delegation, which was meeting the Minister in advance of the Budget 2010 announcement next month, also presented him with a petition, which, since it was posted online two weeks ago, has been signed by over 10,000 people. The petition supports the demands of the NCFA which are  the retention of Culture Ireland and the Irish Film Board, the maintenance of existing levels of arts funding for the Arts Council and continued full representation of the arts at senior cabinet level.

Tania Banotti of Theatre Forum, Sarah Glennie of the Irish Film Institute, Gerry Godley of the Improvised Music Company and Fiach Mac Conghail of the Abbey Theatre were all part of the delegation. 

Tania Banotti said, “The National Campaign for the Arts came together as an unprecedented union of all the different art disciplines in Ireland because not one of those areas is unaffected by the proposed cuts of the McCarthy Report and the devastation that will be caused by a severe slashing of arts funding.  We are here for the long haul and we believe it necessary that our demands are recognised and understood by all in government. That is why we have urged the Minister to disclose those demands at the Cabinet table.”

Fiach Mac Conghail added, “This was an important and essential meeting.  As a sector, we in the arts are not oblivious to the fact that cuts are going to happen across the board in Ireland in 2010.  However, we don’t believe that the arts should take a hit from which it can never recover because then the country will not recover.  The arts are fundamental to Ireland’s economic well-being, as the Minister himself highlighted at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh in Dublin earlier this autumn, and the NCFA are fully committed to working with the Minister and his colleagues in government to help shape future public policy on the arts.”

 

 

NCFA press report update

Have a look at our press report in the files area below (dated 23 September - 18 November).

If we have missed anything please let us know as info@ncfa.ie

 

j Press Report

A quick look at all the activity around the country for the National Campaign for the Arts

Please do let us know if we missed something and we will update!

 

Carlow-Kilkenny
Has a Facebook group with 58 members and is busy this week contacting local media with press release about NCFA petition.

In addition to this Mary White TD (GP) sits on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and was present when the Arts Council and Theatre Forum made presentations on October 14.

 

Cavan-Monaghan
Has a Facebook group.

 

Clare
Has a Facebook group and is actively working on getting local press for the petition.

 

Cork 
There are 5 constituencies in Cork and they are now acting under the Cork Arts Workers group which has its own website and has done the following:

Met with Minister Micheal Martin TD (FF) and Minister Batt O’Keeffe TD (FF)

Organised a Flashmob and march for the arts which took place November 14

More meetings are being scheduled with TDs and Councillors

 

Donegal
Both Donegal constituencies have arts workers groups on Facebook: Donegal North East (190 members) and Donegal North West (130 members) and are spreading the word about the Campaign and petition via local media

 

Dublin
There are 12 constituencies in Dublin as follows:

 

Dublin Central
Has a Facebook group with 516 members and its own website which includes an arts and cultural map of the constituency.

The group has been very active and has met:

Cyprian Brady TD (FF); Joe Costello TD (Lab); Seán Nolan, on behalf of Bertie Ahern TD (FF); Maureen O’Sullivan TD (Ind); Senator Paschal Donohue (FG); Cllr. Aine Clancy (Lab); Cllr. Emer Costello, Lord Mayor of Dublin (Lab); Councillor Claire O’Regan (Lab)

In addition to this members of the group have been writing to the above politicians advising of the Campaign etc.

 

Dublin South Central
Has a Facebook group with 343 members and its own website which includes an arts and cultural map of the constituency 

The group has been very active and has met: 
Sean Ardagh TD (FF); Catherine Byrne (FG); Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (SF); Mary Upton TD (Lab)

They are seeking a meeting with Michael Mulcahy TD (FF) and have also met a number of Councillors. In addition to this members of the group have been writing to the above politicians advising of the Campaign etc.

 

Dublin South East 
Has a Facebook group with 226 members and its own arts and cultural map. The group has met Lucinda Creighton TD (FG), Ruairi Quinn TD (Lab) and is seeking a meeting with Chris Andrews TD (FF) and Minister John Gormley TD (GP)

 

Dublin North East
Has a Facebook group (17 members) and has attended and spoken at a public meeting with Terence Flanagan TD (FG) and George Lee TD (FG) and is now seeking meetings with all TDs in the constituency.

 

Dublin West
Has a Facebook group (32 members) and has met Joan Burton TD (Lab) and has a meeting scheduled with Leo Varadkar TD (FG)  and is actively seeking a meeting with Brian Lenihan TD (FF)

There are also Facebook groups in Dublin North (68 members);  Dublin North Central (37 members); Dublin Mid-West (11 members); Dublin North West (15 members); Dublin South (48 members); Dublin South West (18 members) and Dun Laoghaire (68 members)

In addition to this Michael Kennedy TD (FF) sits on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and was present when the Arts Council and Theatre Forum made presentations on October 14.

 

Galway
Both Galway constituencies have arts workers group on Facebook: Galway East (29 members) and Galway West (159 members) and are meeting all local TDs this week.  

Note Michael D. Higgins TD (Lab) was present at Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the Arts Council and Theatre Forum made presentations on October 14.

 

Kildare
Both Kildare constituencies have arts workers groups on Facebook: Kildare North (43 members) and Kildare South (81 members).

Kildare North has also had meetings with Aine Brady TD (FF), Michael FItzpatrick TD (FF) and Emmet Stagg TD (Lab). 
 

Laois Offaly
Has a Facebook group with 57 members.

Currently scheduling meetings with local TDs and have been busy liaising with Councillors and promoting the Campaign in the local press.

 

Limerick
Limerick East has a Facebook group with 204 members and has had a large meeting in the Limerick City Gallery of Arts Workers which was promoted in local media.

Currently scheduling meetings with local TDs.

 

Longford Westmeath
Has a Facebook group with 26 members. There has been considerable local press coverage of the Campaign.

 

Louth
Has a Facebook group with 54 members.

Arts Matter video presentation by Drogheda Cultural Enterprises was made to Drogheda Borough Council and Louth County Council.

A meeting has taken place with Fergus O'Down TD (FG) and other meetings are being sought.
There was a group shot of all art workers based in the county and this received considerable local press coverage.

 

Meath
Both constituencies have Facebook groups: Meath East and Meath West

 

Mayo
Has a Facebook group with 58 members. There was a group shot of all art workers based in the county and this received considerable local press coverage.

In addition to this meetings have taken place with Minister Dara Calleary TD (FF), Beverley Flynn TD (FF), Enda Kenny TD (FG), John O'Mahony TD (FG)  and Michael Ring TD (FG)  

In addition to this John O'Mahony TD (FG)  and Michael Ring TD (FG)  both sit on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and were present when the Arts Council and Theatre Forum made presentations on October 14.

 

Roscommon South Leitrim
Has a Facebook group and has received good local press coverage of the petition.

 

Sligo North Leitrim
Has a Facebook group with 151 members. There was a group shot of all art workers based in the county and this received considerable local press coverage.

 

Tipperary
Both constituencies have Facebook groups: Tipperary North and Tipperary South

There has been good local press coverage of the petition.

 

Waterford
Has a Facebook group with 369 members. The group has met several times and has secured a lot of local press interest.

They have also organised a poster campaign.  

Currently scheduling meetings with local TDs.

Note: NCFA has a scheduled meeting with Minister Martin Cullen TD (FF)

 

Wexford
Has a Facebook group with 144 members.

A masked Flash mob is planned for this weekend and meetings with local TDs are being sought. There has also been considerable local press interest in the Campaign.

In addition to this Sean Connick TD (FF) sits on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and was present when the Arts Council and Theatre Forum made presentations on October 14.

 

Wicklow
Has a Facebook group with 45 members.

A meeting is due to take place in the Mermaid Arts Centre on Monday 23 and local arts workers and TDs will be in attendance.

In addition to this the NCFA has met Liz McManus TD (Lab)

 

Creative Industries, Innovation & the Smart Economy

Centre for Innovation & Structural Change, NUI Galway and Western Development Commission are hosting a half-day seminar
on Wednesday, 25th November 2009 (12.00pm - 5.00pm) in Bailey Allen Conference Centre, NUI Galway.

Lots more information 

A note from Noone Casey Chartered Accountants

Noone Casey is a Chartered Accountants firm specialising in the Arts and new and emerging business.
 

In order to support the Campaign and artists, we are offering to prepare and file all applications for Artist Exemption from Taxes between now and Budget Day 9 December 2009 free of charge to members of the Campaign. 

For more info:

Noone Casey
54 Dame St
Dublin 2

+353 1 670 7900
www.noonecasey.ie