The Irish Film Board is set to receive €23 million government funding, as part of a plan by Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism Seamus Brennan for Ireland’s arts and cultural infrastructure in 2008.
The new plan, which will provide a cash boost of €245 million for arts and cultural projects in Ireland, includes several initiatives including innovative ways to develop and expand the Irish film industry to be assessed as part of the renewal and enhancement of the Section 481 Tax Relief scheme, which in 2007 was worth €36 million in investment to the industry.
The plan will also deliver extended opening hours for national institutions, a new national cultural day and a doubling of funding for national touring programmes to bring drama and cultural events to a wider audience.
Other organisations to benefit from the cash boost include The Arts Council, who will receive €82.102 million; Culture Ireland, set to receive €4.75 million; the Irish Museum of Modern Art, receiving €8.260 million and the National Museum of Ireland, to get €19.058 million.
An additional investment of €40 million is announced for the next phase of the Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Scheme, or ACCESS, targeted at improving access to and participation in the arts, culture and creativity across the country, through providing funding for the building and refurbishment of arts facilities.
“Overall it must be acknowledged that the arts and culture sectors in this country are of central importance, not only to the cultural development and status of Ireland, but also in contributing to the economic and social progress of the country,” said Minister Brennan.
“This year alone, my Department will invest almost €250 million of taxpayer’s money in the arts and culture sector and creative industries.”
Minister Brennan said that investment of this scale of tax-payers money must have as a priority increasing access to arts, culture and creativity for many more of our people, regardless of age, background or nationality.
