A committee expected to shape policy on the traditional arts for the next three to five years was established today by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr John O'Donoghue.
This is the first committee of its type ever to be established in the sector and has been appointed under Section 21 of the Arts Act 2003.
The Minister said: "When I assumed responsibility for the arts, I quickly became aware of the sense of dissatisfaction that existed within the traditional arts sector with the treatment that the sector had received over the years. "I have now asked the Arts Council to establish a Special Committee on the traditional arts so as to examine these issues in detail, and to furnish a view to the Council by September 2004. I am delighted with the composition of the Committee".
The special committee will adives the Arts council and will give specific recommendations for implementation over three to five years regarding:
- the role of the Arts Council over framing a coherent policy for the traditional arts, taking account of existing support systems, facilities and funding programmes for supporting the traditional arts across all Government Departments, non-governmental agencies, and local Authorities;
- the applicability and relevance of the terms "amateur", "professional" and "voluntary" in contemporary practice in traditional arts.