Arthur Lappin, film and television producer of films such as 'In America’, ‘My Left Foot', 'The Field' and 'Some Mother's Son', will join the list of panellists participating in a debate entitled ‘The Arts and the Economy’ which takes place on Thursday, April 15th and is organised by Ireland’s association of writers, Irish PEN.
The debate will take place at the United Arts Club, Upper Fitzwilliam Street in Dublin and will see Lappin examine Ireland’s arts and the effect of the economy thereon alongside Aidan Burke, Operations Director with the Arts Council; Gerry Godley, broadcaster and spokesperson for the National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA); Claire Doody, Project Manager of Cultural Odyssey and Declan Kiberd, literary critic and Chair of Anglo-Irish Literature and Drama at UCD.
The debate, which centres on the important role that the Irish arts play in the national economy, aims to add the current public deliberations on this subject. Author Marita Conlon-McKenna, who is a member of the Irish PEN Committee, says of the event: “PEN is an association that regularly discusses the many issues facing contemporary arts and Irish writing in particular. So it is fitting, in this present climate that it offers a platform for the expression of and engagement with existent and new ideas of how the arts can respond to the current economic ills of this country. We are very pleased that our guest panellists are people with vision and a passion for the arts and I look forward to a great debate.”
‘The Arts and the Economy’ debate takes place at 8pm on Thurs 15 April at The United Arts Club, 3 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. Ticket prices are €3 Irish PEN members, €5 non-members. All are welcome but booking is essential as places are limited. To reserve a ticket e-mail info@irishpen.com
