Madam, - A report of recent changes to Arts administration in your edition of May 22nd suggests - even states - that I established "a special committee within the Arts Council to control the funding of traditional music". Not so.
The Arts Bill I published as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands established one statutory committee on traditional Irish arts, another on arts and local authorities, and a third on artistic innovation. The first reflected widespread dissatisfaction with existing arrangements in relation to traditional arts. The other two reflected my belief that local authorities should regard the arts as an integral part of their functioning and a matching belief that artistic innovation is the key to wider flexibility and creativity in any society.
It is important to state that the committee on traditional arts was mandated to "assist and advise the Council on matters relating to the traditional Irish Arts". It was also expected to "make recommendations to the Council in relation to the advance of monies to any person relating to traditional Irish arts."
It was not, however, empowered to - as your report stated - "control the funding of traditional music." It was asked to provide recommendations. The objective was to integrate traditional arts into mainstream arts planning, not to create a new ghetto. - Yours etc.,
SÍLE DE VALERA, TD, Minister of State, Department of Education
and Science, Dublin 1.