National Campaign For The Arts call on government to increase funding and Basic Income for Artists scheme for Budget 2021
The National Campaign For The Arts has submitted its pre-budget submission to the government this week.
Entitled NCFA Pre-Budget 2022 Submission: A New Journey Into A Better Future, the report highlights that funded arts, as opposed to the commercial live sector (which has been subject to much talk and media coverage in the lead of the roadmap) is still in crisis.
Say the NCFA:
Government investment in the bodies that underwrite the artistic output of the nation have barely recovered since the 2008 crash. Ireland continues to languish on the bottom rung of European investment in culture. Remuneration for Irish artists and arts workers is consistently and significantly less than the national average, and the working day continues to lengthen. The funded arts sector has always existed at the discretion of those who decide the pecking order of societal needs. If proof of value is key to investment decisions, NCFA strongly asserts that the last eighteen months are clear proof of concept: invest in the arts and the arts will return manifold. It seems often forgotten that artists and arts workers do not live in a parallel society: they are as impacted by crises in health, housing, education, climate action and equality as all other citizens.
Here’s an overview of what they are calling for:
- Increase funding to the Arts Council to €150 million in 2022
- Increase funding to Culture Ireland to €7 million in 2022
- Prioritise and expedite the Basic Income for Artists scheme
- Extend the Creative Ireland programme and maintain funding at current levels to 2027
- Ringfence arts spending for Local Authorities
- Urgently commission a review of taxation practice as it relates to the arts in Ireland
- Urgently implement insurance reform
- Address the environmental impacts of arts and related activities
- Develop an action plan to address systemic barriers which prevent artists from active and equal participation in cultural life and work
- Commit to new and continued essential research into the arts and cultural sector to ensure informed decision making
The NCFA will present this submission to the Minister for Arts Catherine Martin tomorrow Wednesday September 15th.
