The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands has announced the 44 recipients of the £36 million (Euro 47.7m) under the Arts and Culture Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS). The scheme is designed to lead to the provision of high standard arts and culture infrastructure, and covers three strands of facility, as follows:
- New Facilities
- Redevelopment of Existing Arts and Culture Facilities, and
- Smaller Community-based Projects.
A total of 180 applications were received under the scheme seeking funding in the order of £224m (Euro 284.4m), and all applications meeting the eligibility criteria were considered by an independent advisory committee established by the Minister for this purpose. Particular emphasis was placed on community-based projects and 17 such projects are to receive grant aid.
The Minister hopes that the scheme will lead to greater participation in the arts with a greater number of facilities being provided on a broad geographic basis. It is expected that the scheme will also result in the creation of direct and indirect employment in the arts and in the local economy generally.
The scheme will lead to the input of almost £46 million (Euro 58.4m) into arts capital infrastructure over four years taking into account match funding being provided by project promoters.
Recipients include:
Kino Cinema, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo (£35,000)
Dundalk Town Hall Theatre & Basement Gallery Re-development (£2 Million)
Little Theatre, Gorey, Co. Wexford (£290,000)
Civic Museum, Spanish Arch, Galway (£2.4 Million)
The Gate Theatre, Dublin (£1.7 Million)