The National Campaign for the Arts Pre-Budget Submission

31 August 2016

Executive Summary

We call upon the Department of Finance to increase current direct investment in Arts and Culture through sustainable investment particularly in the agencies funded by the Department of Arts Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs (namely the Arts Council and the Film Board) in order to begin the process of repairing the widespread damage suffered by the sector in recent years.

We also call for the implementation of the following measures:

• Retention of the €50 million allocated for Commemorations to the Department of Arts Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs, and for that money to be ring-fenced for allocation to the Arts Council and the Film Board
• Restoration of €30 million worth of cuts imposed on the Arts Council and aim to reach at least €180 million annual budget for the Arts Council within the life of the next government
• Social welfare reform to allow artists to pursue their careers with dignity Implement tax breaks to stimulate corporate and philanthropic investment in the arts and to grow the creative industries
• Establish a separate Lottery fund, separate and distinct from Arts Council funding for diversification of grant allocation
• Reclassify Local Authority Arts spending as non-discretionary
• Actively fund creative industries and arts activity via Local Enterprise Offices and LEADER funds
• Implement the Arts in Education Charter
• Extend Junior Cycle Review to include Dance, Drama, and Music Introduce Drama and Dance as a subject in Secondary Schools
• Shift government education investment policy from a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) to STEAM focus. STEM + Art = STEAM

Read the full Pre-Budget Submission