Tipperary to benefit from Arts Council investment of €176k in 2017

The Arts Council, the government agency for leading the development of the arts in Ireland, today announced funding of €176,000 for the Tipperary arts in 2017. A total of three local centres and projects ere awarded funding.

Arts Council Director Orlaith McBride said: “In our investment approach, we have focused in particular on broadening the reach of the arts in Ireland. We will work with a range of partners, in local, community, educational, youth and other settings, to ensure that people experience the best of the arts over the next 12 months.”

Today’s announcement forms part of the Arts Council’s planned investment of €65.1 million for 2017, which will see people across Ireland engage with the arts in exciting and innovative ways. The investment represents an increase of €5 million, or 8.6%, on the 2016 amount.

Local authorities, individual artists, particularly emerging artists, work for children and young people, local authorities and community-based arts practices are a particular focus of the Arts Council’s strategy, Making Great Art Work and have therefore received significant increases in investment.

Arts Council Chair Sheila Pratschke said: “Our grant from Government for 2017 is €65.1 million, which is €5 million more than 2016. Our strategy prioritises the artist and public engagement, and our decisions for 2017 focus on small festivals, individual and emerging artists, community-based practice and work with and for children and young people. This means more great work will be made by artists and arts organisations for people in every part of the country.”

The Tipperary-based projects that have received funding include:

• The Source Arts Centre (€60k) is a local-authority owned venue in Thurles, opened in 2006, with a 250 seat theatre, gallery (shared with the library service) and workshop spaces.

• Tipperary Junction Festival (€96k) works year round producing, presenting and promoting arts events in Clonmel. This culminates in an annual 10-day festival each July. Established in 2001 the festival has a strong focus on arts for young people and community engagement.

• Tipperary Excel (€20k) in Tipperary town is a local authority developed venue, opened in 2001 with a 362 seat theatre / cinema and a number of other spaces for dance, visual art and classes.

Making Great Art Work

The Arts Council’s strategy, Making Great Art Work, sets out a plan to lead the arts in Ireland over the next decade and prioritises the artist and public engagement. Next year marks the beginning of the first ‘three year plan’ within the strategy, and in its annual investment statement, the Arts Council said the increase in its grant from Government would enable it to deliver on a number of strategic priorities, while at the same enhancing its investment relationships with a number of key organisations and partners.

For 2017, the Arts Council increased investment in small festivals through several funding schemes; to independent artists particularly emerging artists through its bursary and project awards; to community focused programmes; to work specifically for young people and children; and to its partnership with local authorities.

• Festivals €3 million up from €2.7 million

• Individual Artists €7.9 million up from €6.8 million

• International Programme for Artists €466,000 up from €414,000

• Local Authority funding €2.2 million up from €2 million

• Young People and Children €3.7 million up from €3.1 million

• Community Focused Programmes €1.7 million up from €1.1 million

Useful links:

• The Arts Council’s strategy, Making Great Art Work, download here(PDF, 3.29MB)

• The Arts Council’s investment plan for 2017 download here (PDF, 0.4MB)