The new government has released a Programme for a Partnership Government which promises to “work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve”.
The programme states that “arts and culture are intrinsic to the Irish State” and promise to take measures to “work with the Irish Film Board/Screen Ireland to ensure that Ireland is maximised as a location for international film production”.
Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) has called on the government to follow through on this commitment to increase IFB funding in Budget 2017 and to implement reform of the Television Licence Fee as a matter of urgency.
Barbara Galavan, SPI CEO, commented, “An increase in funding to the Irish Film Board will have a very positive effect on the sector and will help Irish producers to compete on a more level playing field. Indigenous productions, which are supported by the IFB, help to nurture local creative talent and provide high value employment.”
Galavan also went on to state these indigenous production also play an important role in preserving Ireland’s rich cultural heritage and in attracting tourism. They estimate that restoring the IFB Oireachtas grant to €20m per annum would generate approximately €84m in production activity.
The Government’s Partnership Programme plan can be seen here.