ARTS AND CULTURAL ENHANCEMENT SUPPORT SCHEME II (ACCESS II)
O'Donoghue announces €32 million in funding for arts facilities throughout
Ireland
John O'Donoghue, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, is delighted to announce his decision to offer funding of €32 million to the promoters of 67 projects nationwide under the Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme II (ACCESS II 2007 - 2009). The ACCESS scheme is designed to assist the provision of high standard arts and culture infrastructure, thereby enhancing access to the arts throughout the country. This is a successor to the highly successful ACCESS I scheme, introduced in August 2001, which allocated over €43m.
Making the announcement, Minister O'Donoghue said: "I am delighted
to announce this substantial amount of funding for arts facilities throughout
Ireland. The ACCESS scheme has been recognised widely as a significant intervention
in the provision of high quality arts and culture infrastructure around
the country".
A total of 155 applications were received under the scheme. Funding of the
order of €200 million was sought. Applications were made under two
different strands - new facilities and refurbishment or enhancement of existing
arts and culture facilities. The projects were assessed by an Independent
Selection Committee, which made recommendations to the Minister. The Minister
hopes that the scheme will lead to greater participation in the arts with
a greater number of facilities being provided on a broad geographic basis.
It is expected that the scheme will also result in the creation of direct
and indirect employment in the arts and in the local economies.
The Minister said: "The main focus of ACCESS II is the refurbishment
and enhancement of existing facilities. Two thirds of the funds have been
earmarked for that purpose. I have allocated a third of the funding for
the creation of new facilities. It has always been my firm belief that access
to the arts, for all our citizens, must be facilitated and this funding
is vital in that regard. We are at an inflexion point in arts funding in
Ireland and never before have we had this gilted opportunity to bequest
to our people a necklace of arts infrastructure worthy of a cultured state".
While the intention of the new scheme is to prioritise the enhancement and
maintenance of existing facilities, there will also be provision under the
terms of the scheme to support new build projects. 70% of the funds available
under the scheme will be directed towards the enhancement and/or refurbishment
of existing facilities, with 30% available for new facilities. Projects
supported include the provision of integrated art centers, theatres and
studio space and the refurbishment of existing performance spaces.
The Minister concluded by stating: "Today'sannouncementprovides clear
andunambiguousevidence of theGovernment'scontinuingcommitment to the development
of artsfacilitiesaround the country. Furthermore, the National Development
Plan 2007 -2013 provides funding of €81 million for the ACCESS scheme.
I believe that this funding will provide a significant impetus to the arts
sector and allow existingfacilitiesto continue to provide high quality venues
and programming for the citizens of Ireland".
This round of the scheme will lead to the total investment of over €121
million over four years into arts capital infrastructure taking into account
matching funding being provided by project promoters.
A list of the approved projects is outlined in this pdf
attachment (131kb).
For further information, contact:
ACCESS Unit,
Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism,
Fossa
Killarney
Co. Kerry
Arts (Capital Development) - Tel: 064 27332 or 064 27333
Fax the Unit: (+353) 64 27350
Email the Unit: artscapitalunit@dast.gov.ie