The Arts Council is seeking €68 million in Government funding for 2005 according to figures published today by the council.
According to the council there has been an unprecedented level of demand for revenue funding for 2005 by arts organisations.
In a call for applications for funding the council received 410 submissions from arts organisations throughout the country including festivals and events, production companies, resource and service organisations and venues, and individual artists.
In total, the Arts Council faces a demand of €100 million as it sets its budget for 2005.
Ms Olive Braiden, Chairwoman of the Council, said the amount sought from Government, if granted, will only meet two-thirds of the actual demand from artists and
"The arts organisations. arts community is asking us for almost €100m for their activities in 2005. This demand is running at almost twice the total resources available to the Arts Council in 2004," Ms Braiden said.
"This is an unprecedented level of demand, reflecting the vibrancy of the sector but also the constraints within which people have had to operate over the past five years," Ms Braiden added.
The council also said it would be working closely with the Abbey Theatre to help it emerge from its difficulties.