Press Release

PRESS RELEASE 24 April 2007

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 the attachment).

ENDS

Projects Funded under ACCESS II