Arts Council
Arts Council
The Arts Council is the development agency for the arts in Ireland. It supports individual creative and interpretive artists. The Council is an independent state body.
The Act provides for an Arts Council comprising a Chairperson, and 12 ordinary members. There is provision for rotating membership.
The first membership is appointed and comprises six members who serve for 30 months and six for five years. The Council is independent in the performance of its functions in relation to funding the arts.
Arts Acts
The Arts Act 2003 repealed and replaced the prior Acts, 1951 and 1973 act. It gives the Minister responsibility for the promotion of arts inside the state and abroad. The Arts Act 2003 continued the Arts Council in being.
The Act allows the Department to require the Council to establish three special committees advise it on matters relating to the arts. The membership of each committee shall comprise five persons.
The chair is elected by the Minister and to ordinary members appointed by the Minister and two by the Council. The members need not necessarily be members of the Council.
Functions
The Minister is obliged to promote the art inside and outside the State. In the performance of its functions , it must consult with the Council and such other persons as appropriate.
The Minister may advise the Council in relation to the performance of its functions give directions, requiring it to comply with the policies of the Minister as are specified.A direction may include a requirement of the Council to prepare and submit a plan specifying strategies and measures that it proposes to adopt in relation to the arts during the period to which the plan relate.
The Minister may amend or revoke the directions. The Council must comply with the direction given under the section.
Organisation
Members of the Arts Council, the Chairman and the ordinary members of the Council are paid such remuneration if any and allowed expenses at the Minister with the approval of the Department of Finance may determine.
There should be a Chief Executive Officer of the Council that carries on and manages generally the administration of the Council. It performs such functions as may be determined by the Council.
That Director may attend and members’ meeting of the Council, although he is not a member. He shall hold office on such terms as may be determined by the Council with the consent of the Minister for Finance.The provisions applicable generally to semi-state agencies applies.
The Arts Council and has a staff which is determined, its terms and conditions are determined by the Council with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
Local & Public Authorities
Local authorities are obliged to prepare and implement plans for the development of the arts within their functional area. In so doing, they must take account of the policies of the government in relation to the arts.
A local authority may provide financial and other assistance to persons in respect of activities, projects and undertakings for the purpose of stimulating public interest in art, promoting knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts and improving standards in the art within its functional area.
A public body shall in the performance of this functions that relate to the arts, have regard to the government policies relating The Minister may by direction require a public body to prepare or apportion the performance of its functions that relate to the art and submit such report to him. The direction is binding on the body itself.
The arts means creative or interpretive expression, whether traditional or contemporary in whatever form. It includes in particular visual arts, theatre, literature, dance, music, opera, films, circus and architecture. It includes any medium been used for those purposes.
Advances & Support
The Council may for the purpose of stimulating public interest in the arts, promoting knowledge appreciation or practice of the art, improving standards in the arts or otherwise assisting in the development or advancement of the arts, advance such money or monies as they determine to such persons in respect of activities, as it considers appropriate, out of monies at its disposal. The Council is to be independent in the performance of its functions.
The Arts Council is constrained by its funding. Within the limits of its funding it plans both with reference to long term development priorities and the needs of the artist and art organisations reflected in applications received.
The Arts Council allocates monies to more than 400 organisations and 500 individual artists. The Arts Council provides the support for artists, and audiences who use Irish.  It supports Irish traditional music archive and several multidisciplinary festivals.
Arts Plan
The first Arts Plan was prepared by the Arts Council in 1994 and adopted by the government in 1995. This was the first national plan for the arts in the history of the state. It describes the Arts Council’s strategy for promoting quality and innovation in all aspects of the arts.
The objective of the Plan were the promotion of excellence and innovation, development and participation in, and audiences for that arts and the development of the arts sector itself. The second plan was shaped by reflection to certain dialogue.
Relationship
The Arts Council works closely with the Arts Council of Northern Island. They have evolved mechanisms for considering applications to both councils. All Ireland resource organisations in music and literature may receive funding from both Councils.
The Arts Council engages in partnership with statutory and non-statutory bodies including the National and Youth Council of Ireland, Health Boards, health authorities. In the disability area, the Arts Council has been involved in partnership projects.