Labour's Plan for the Arts
Issued : Saturday 12 February, 2011
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Summary
1. The Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport has farmed out much responsibility of policy development to external consultants and semi state bodies. In the interests of value for money, achieving greater efficiencies and a more coherent policy, responsibility for policy formation should be returned to the department. The Minister and the department will be charged with devising a policy framework, in consultation with the Arts Council, which will inform the work of the Arts Council. The Arts Council will be responsible for implementing that policy.
2. While significant infrastructural gaps still exist, the focus must now be on filling the arts centres that we have with the best mix of local and touring projects, youth, senior and community work. Where refurbishment works are needed on an existing facility this will be considered, but the focus should be on current spending and filling the space in our stock of existing centres.
3. We will undertake a National Audit of Arts and Cultural Facilities to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses by location regarding arts and cultural facilities. This audit will include "soft" infrastructure and assets such as community projects.
4. We will look to capture some public good from NAMA by identifying buildings that might be suitable for artistic and cultural endeavours or indeed sporting and community facilities.
5. Initiate a full review of the areas that receive state funding through the Arts Council. Funding will be targeted in areas where it can be the most effective in terms of extending the availability of arts and cultural activities, while balancing this against innovation and endeavor.
6. Ensure that all forms of the arts and culture are supported. Artforms which are particularly popular with young people, such as music, dance and street art, should be expanded to ensure the widest possible access is available to as many artforms as possible.
7. The Artists Tax Exemption should be set at €40,000 /year but with a capacity to spread income over a period of years in recognition that some artists, such as writers, may only secure an income once every couple of years.
8. The Labour Party is prepared to examine anomalies in the social protection code that cause particular hardship for working artists.
9. Establish, initially on a pilot basis, a Local Arts Partnership, similar to the successful local sports partnerships in order to increase participation. Every citizen of this state should have an opportunity to participate in arts and culture to a level of their choosing.
10. Work with the Department of Education and other relevant departments such as Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to identify schools and other non formal settings where the provision of arts needs to be upgraded.
11. The Labour Party supports, over the medium term, putting a proportion of funding for the arts on a multi annual footing.
12. A National Endowment Fund for the Arts to be established to provide private funding to the arts.
13. Maintain the Irish Film Board and amend its governing act to include responsibility for the video game industry. We also propose to extend the Research and Development tax relief, for the creative phase of game development.
14. Develop an accurate and comprehensive arts and culture statistical system.
