A number of measures have been announced to support the cultural sector during the Covid-19 crisis.
One measure announced was a new €1m scheme to support Irish and Irish-based professional artists which will help sustain new cultural works during the emergency.
Minister Ciaran Cannon welcomed the announcement, and said the scheme will support artists, in the areas of writing, music, visual art, painting, photography and sculpture in developing new works.
Speaking about the impact the crisis has had on artists, the Gawlay East TD said: “The closure of public artistic venues and cancellation of bookings has meant that our artists, in every field of creative endeavour, have taken a most severe hit to their income-earning capacity.
“I have come to know many of the great people we have in the sector across Ireland through my work with the Village Theatre in Carrabane and so I welcome the announcement of a number of measures to support them through this crisis.
“It is also encouraging to see the variety of resources that have been made available to promote engagement with creativity while at home, among these, RTÉ’s showcasing of material from the National Cultural Institutions, national arts organisations and the Arts Council across their platforms and the development by Waterways Ireland of a series of educational resources for children to bring the waterways and the outdoors to life in a fun, creative manner on the screen”.
Minister Cannon added “No one takes this virus lightly and it will take time and patience to conquer it”.
“I am confident, however, that it will eventually be seen off and that initiatives such as the €1m scheme will have helped sustain new artistic works and our own county`s artistic sector.”
