Arts Unit

• Developing policy in relation to arts, culture and music, particularly the development of policy positions in relation to capital, genealogy, copyright, digitisation, creative industries, and the Irish audiovisual industry, including tax-based incentives
• Appropriate oversight and provision of funding for the Arts Council, Screen Ireland, the National Archives, the National Library of Ireland and the Abbey Theatre (capital)
• Administration of the Section 481 Tax Credit including composite testing, skills development and general policies

Implementation of policy initiatives and schemes including:

• Project 2040 and the Department’s Capital Plan insofar as it relates to the proposed development upgrading the cultural infrastructure of the National Library and the National Archives and Abbey Theatre (Cultural Institutions) and digitisation
• Delivery of Capital Schemes for cultural infrastructure and development on a competitive basis
• Delivery of other Capital Projects outside of Capital Schemes
• The Audiovisual Action Plan

• Services to the public are generally delivered in response to applications for assistance and are provided by post, e-mail, telephone and in person. Queries received by the Department may be referred to agencies under the remit of the unit for further assistance. There is no cost to access any of these services.
• The section administers the Section 481 Tax Credit and provides guidance in relation to the scheme. Applications are submitted by email to section481@chg.gov.ie and guidance is provided online and in response to requests for assistance.
• The section provides information to the general public concerning arts policy and related matters. Requests for information can be made by email to artsunit@chg.gov.ie
• The section operates the genealogy.ie website that provides access to the historic civil records of births, marriages and deaths. The website is free to access and offers a feedback facility for users.

• Records concerning the Arts Council, Screen Ireland, the National Archives, the National Library of Ireland and the Abbey Theatre which can include information on administration, finances, policy matters, correspondence and the appointment of board members.
• Records relating to operational matters concerning the Unit’s functions, such as minutes, correspondence, speeches, ministerial representations and briefing notes.
• Applications made in respect of the Section 481 Tax Credit together with related statistics.
• Records in relation to capital grants allocated to various projects under capital grant schemes.

Funding is being made available under the Department’s capital plan – Project Ireland 2040 - Investing in our Culture, Language & Heritage 2018 – 2027. Under this capital plan a number of competitive grant schemes have been run the most recent one is the Cultural Capital Scheme, 2019 – 2022. Details can be accessed at the following link:

• Current Creative schemes