AN IMPASSIONED defence of arts funding was made at the weekend by the chairwoman of the Arts Council and the artistic director of Druid Theatre.
Against the backdrop of possible cuts, Druid director Garry Hynes said: “The arts matter. They are an incredibly important part of Irish civil society and the suggestion that the arts are no longer important is incredible to me.” She was speaking at Saturday night’s unveiling of the refurbished Druid Theatre and opening of Tom Murphy’s The Gigli Concert as part of the Galway Arts Festival.
Her speech, which drew an enthusiastic response, addressed the recommendations in last week’s McCarthy report that the existence of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism be examined and that the Irish Film Board and Culture Ireland be abolished.
She said the suggestions were “outrageous and an extraordinary insult” to film-makers who have had such a strong role. She also singled out the €4 million spent by Culture Ireland, which “has been used to extraordinary benefit” for Irish arts being seen abroad.
“That this would be swept away would be senseless.” She said the arts were not an optional extra and spoke about “what we know the arts can do”.
“From Temple Bar to this city’s Latin Quarter to the attractions of Galway as an industrial centre – there’s evidence that people are drawn by vibrant cultural life. Please let us go out and make this point.” She added: “People like me don’t speak up loud or long enough. The next years will be harder than we can remember.”
Arts Council chairwoman Pat Moylan also spoke strongly against the suggestions of the McCarthy report.“The arts are part of this nation. Plus, we employ local people, we buy local produce.
“There are thousands working in the arts, not all paid very well, but we do pay our taxes. We are making our case and we need to have our own Minister at the cabinet table. The future of the department is being examined. As chair of the Arts Council, I’m saying this would be a retrograde step for the arts in Ireland.”
She talked about how, ever since Michael D Higgins – who was present at the theatre opening – was appointed the first minister for arts, a position now held by Martin Cullen, “we have had a minister who banged that Cabinet table and made a difference and we need this to continue.”
Ms Hynes said cultural tourism was growing, even in recession. “Seven and half million people come here and they don’t come for the weather.” She recalled standing on Quay Street in 1978 when there were just two functioning businesses, McDonagh’s fish shop and Kenny’s bookshop. The rest of the area was derelict.
“I want to say, Druid moved in in 1979 and, with the help of the enlightened contribution of local businesses, like McDonagh’s who gave us this building at a peppercorn rent, and sincerely hard work,” the area has become what was now called the Latin Quarter.
The Galway Arts Festival came a few years later, bringing hundreds of thousands to the city every year. “We have to lay claim to this, we cannot be ruled out. We have to be part of Ireland for the next generation and the next decade,” she said.
