Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin has announced capital grants of almost €540,000 for 25 arts and culture organisations to upgrade and develop their facilities.
Details
This funding is provided under Stream A of the Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022, which offers grants of up to €50,000. It is part of an overall €4.7 million capital investment scheme in artistic and cultural institutions around the country. The funding is being made available under the National Development Plan, Project Ireland 2040. Investing in our Culture, Language & Heritage 2018-2027 sets out the government's objectives for capital investment in Ireland's culture, language and heritage.
The Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022 aims to enhance the existing stock of arts and culture centres throughout the country. In line with the government's action on climate change, this scheme prioritises projects that reduce an organisation's carbon footprint and make a real and positive impact on the environment. Projects that provide additional capacity for artists and artistic production, particularly in arts centres, will also be favoured. This new scheme, which has four separate streams of funding, builds on the success of the former Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018.
Statement By Minister Martin
Minister Martin stated, "I am delighted to be in a position to award this funding to these organisations for the necessary upgrading of their facilities. This capital scheme prioritises projects that reduce an organisation's carbon footprint. This is in line with the government's action on climate change, and it is encouraging to know that the funding for some of these projects will make a real and positive impact on the environment. Projects that provide additional capacity for artists and artistic production, particularly in arts centres, were also favoured. This investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries, museums, as well as artists' studios and creative spaces, aims to improve the audience and creative experience.
"This overall funding package will ensure past investment in these arts and cultural centres is protected and sustained. Today's funding announcement is in addition to my earlier allocations of funding under this scheme in December 2020, and August 2021, together with funding to visual artist workspaces and Stream D funding which is specifically for capital adaptations or equipment necessary to assist arts organisations in re-opening safely after COVID-19. While some of the allocations are modest, they will make a huge difference to some smaller organisations. Today's announcement will bring the total awarded under this scheme to date to almost €3.4m. I wish these arts and culture facilities continued success in the future."
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