Sheila Pratschke has been announced as the new chairperson designate of the Arts Council. The announcement was made by the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan.
She succeeds Pat Moylan, whose term of office ended in 2013.
Previously, Ms Pratschke was director of Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris from to 2007 to 2013, and is a former director of both the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, from 2001 to 2007, and the Irish Film Institute.
Minister Deenihan also confirmed five new members of the council: Éimear O’Connor, Monica Spencer, Miriam Dunne, Brian Maguire and Joan Sheehy.
Ms. Dunne is currently Chairperson of AOIFE (the Association of Irish Festival Events), while Ms. Sheehy is an actress who has worked extensively with the Abbey Theatre, the Gate Theatre, and the Project Arts Centre in Dublin. Her film and television productions include ‘Escape for Virgie’ for Hill 16 Films, ‘The Stranger’ for Thames TV, ‘The Field’, and ‘Into the West’.
The Department states that the Arts Council plays an important role in supporting individual artists and arts organisations in their work through funding. The council consists of a Chairperson and 12 members, and serve a five year term.
Speaking on the announcement, Minister Deenhian said: “The Chairperson designate and new members have a wealth of experience which will benefit the development of the arts in Ireland into the future."
Ms. Pratschke’s new position in the Arts Council will be confirmed following an appearance before an Oireachtas committee at a future date.
