Sir, - The rumours are apparently well-founded: Cursai Ealaine as we know it is to cease to exist. This programme is characterised by high quality communication and real visual intelligence aimed at giving the viewer an insight into the breadth and depth of the arts in Ireland as they unfold. It is one of the best series RTE has ever produced, and it is greatly admired by practising visual artists. To lose a programme designed to show what is happening now will be a very great shame. Apparently there is to be a move towards documentary-making, but the remit is utterly different and the immediacy lost.
In itself the passing of Cursai Ealaine is bad enough, but apparently Later with John Kelly and Imprint are also to go. The national broadcaster is, as far as I can make out, to be left with no current coverage of the arts in Ireland. It is a very great shame that RTE is allowing this to happen, particularly during such a blooming of the arts in Ireland. It is sad too to be losing a programme that is so intelligent and effective in nurturing the Irish language. - ursai Ealaine has been a programme of which I have been proud, in the sense that I was proud that we had a national broadcaster that supported such programming. We should be grateful when RTE acknowledges and supports our ability as a nation to think and to create. For such good work done to date, our thanks, but please let them not throw away the best they have. - Yours, etc.,
Peter Fitzgerald, Artist, Editor, CIRCA Art Magazine, Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2.