The petition which is linked on this blog twice has garnered +9,000 signatures to achieve change in how Arts is funded at all levels. I shall add in that link at the end of this short piece.
I just wanted to publish here a short response I made on the Politics.ie site with regard to how problematic structuring a funding of such epheremal tasks as Arts development can be. Art’s development is (let there be no doubt) an infrastructural issue as well as a heritage and cultural issue. The Government must act in the role of Stewardship with a view to cultivating and encouraging an Art’s sector based in administration, provision of spaces, resources, archives and education to the people of Ireland. This area is problematic given the starvation at the root of that development which has occurred true legislative changes which include the Art’s Act 2003 and the Blasphemy Legislation of 2009. (both will be linked at the end of the Piece).
Here’s the comment referred to above
Thread: National campaign for the Arts Petition 2009
“I am sure when the store is set that an adequate approach to funding will be discussed with those who have an interest in the area, if FF radicalisation includes this type of summit, there’s little hope:
Forum opposes gallery merger – The Irish Times – Thu, Nov 19, 2009*
Art occurs at both a grassroot and developmental level, which I why I referred above to the fight in Mayo regards bringing music to schools, in the past this service was founded by a small group of people who gave us the school orchestras and Feiseanna- thereby encouraging talented members of the populace into artistic development and expression. The Government are but stewards in what is a cultural and heritage issue. Their abysmal lack of understanding of that role has led to an impasse of gargantuan proportions, typified by two minsters who don’t get that its not about influence/affluence; but about cultivation of excellence and passing that on to the next generation.
(Dermot Ahern‘s Blasphemy legislation and some of Martin Cullen‘s appointments to the Art’s Council indicate that problem)
So in short response to Clanrickard’s insertions above ^^^: Should not stakeholders have a say in protest at cuts that are misdirected, ill-thought-out and wrongly targetted??
Everyone else who has interests in fund-cuts have had their say, why should the Art’s sector remain in silence and watch bad decisions being made on behalf of those who will inherit a worsening situation??”
Politics.ie Thread on the Campaign4Arts.
Irish Blasphemy Laws 2009 (WTF??)
Chris Murray 