Richard Boyd Barrett: Condemns Arts Funding Cuts, Warns of Cultural Loss
Richard Boyd Barrett criticised the Dublin Task Force and recent arts funding decisions, arguing they have destroyed a vital arts space and undermined theatre funding. He described the funding model as neo-liberal and highlighted the loss of the Complex, job impacts and the absence of core and multi-annual support for theatre companies.
Main criticism
Richard Boyd Barrett said there is "an incredible disconnect between the supposed aspirations of the Dublin Task Force and the actuality." He blamed a failure to provide 6 million that had been requested by an arts complex, calling its loss "absolutely shocking."
The Complex and employment
He described the Complex as an arts space that provided direct employment for about 30 or 40 people and supported about 250 artists across disciplines. He said the space was a vibrant hub for the arts that has now been lost.
Theatre funding and actors' warning
Richard Boyd Barrett cited a recent letter from seven leading actors to the Irish Times which, he said, warned that the lack of core and multi-annual funding for theatre companies has had a devastating effect on the ability to produce good theatre. He called this outcome the result of a neo-liberal funding model for theatre.
Response from another deputy
A responding deputy acknowledged the role of the Arts Council and city council arts departments in supporting production and drama, described the arts and cultural situation as thriving, and said they would look into the points raised and consider how best to support theatre production.
Implications for Dublin's cultural life
Richard Boyd Barrett warned that a central part of Dublin's identity and reputation has been decimated by current funding decisions. He emphasised that arts and culture are core to the city's quality of life and societal strengths, not merely its economy.
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There's an incredible disconnect between the supposed aspirations of the Dublin Task Force and the actuality, and as has already been mentioned, the fact that the complex, an arts space that provided direct employment for about 30 or 40 people, about 250 artists operating out of it, a vibrant space across all the arts disciplines for the lack of 6 million by the government, that's all they asked. Is gone, is absolutely shocking. I also note that seven of our leading actors have written a letter into the Irish Times in the last week saying the lack of core and multi-annual funding for theatre companies has had a devastating effect on the ability of actors to produce good theatre, right? A central part of Dublin's identity and reputation been decimated because essentially of a neo-liberal funding model for theatre. Deputy Paul Murphy. So what are you going to do about those things? Deputy Barrett, Richard Boyd-Barrett, you referenced the complex also, and the core and multi-annual funding for theatre. And you described the model as a neo-liberal model, you know, I think we have, I think we have a thriving arts and cultural situation in Ireland. I think the Arts Council is important in that regard. I think the arts departments of city councils are very important in supporting theatre companies and production companies, production companies in particular. I will, I will, yeah, but I didn't catch it, but I will know that you've drawn my attention to it and I'll have a look at that. I'm always very open to supporting the production and drama and so on and what's the most effective way of doing it because it's a core part of what any city, in terms of quality of life and in terms of, which is important. We just don't live in an economy, we live in a society and we have strengths in that regard.
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