Ó An Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán
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Tá an-áthas orm a bheith anseo libh maidin inniu. Is áit iontach speisialta é seo d’ealaíontóirí - lár-ionad ceirde agus cruthaíochta i gcroílár na príomhchathrach. Foinse iontach ealaíon, gan dabht agus is mór an onóir dom a bheith in bhur dteannta.
Today I am pleased to launch Culture Ireland’s strategy 2022-2025. Culture Ireland has been in operation for 17 years, supporting artists to present their work on global platforms and reaching millions of audience members annually.
This year, as Ireland celebrates the centenary of the foundation of our nation, we have had time to reflect on what has been important to us over these 100 years. And we have realised that our culture is central to what we are. Our culture is as critical to us today as it was over 100 years ago when the Celtic Revival accompanied and inspired the revolutionary movement that led to independence.
In Ireland we have always had a pride in our culture and the strength of Ireland’s creativity and we have carried and shared our culture proudly around the world. Culture Ireland has over recent months taken a deep look at how best it can operate to support our artists and promote Irish arts globally. The period of the pandemic shook many of our norms and especially rocked plans for international engagement by artists. This upheaval coincided with the time where we gained a heightened realisation of the importance of connecting and sharing and Culture Ireland rapidly adapted to support artists virtually.
Central to Culture Ireland’s approach is the artist. Being a small country means that international work is essential to sustain the career of many artists and I am committed to sustaining this support. The principles which I set out on becoming Minister of ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion as well as a focus on the Irish language are reflected in Culture Ireland’s strategy. Ireland is now a country of great diversity and we respect the fact we must remain open to new perspectives and embrace and support them. Many of the talented artists who are supported by Culture Ireland were not born or are of parents not born in Ireland and they proudly represent our ever changing society in the global arena. There is a commitment by Culture Ireland to increase awareness of the supports it offers and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusivity underlie all its decision making processes.
In relation to gender balance, I was delighted to note at a recent event to wish musicians well heading to South by South West in Austin, one of the most important music global showcases, that 7 of the 9 Irish bands selected to perform are female or female fronted. What an achievement, which of course this has not happened without a commitment to making a change on gender balance on festival line-ups.
Culture Ireland has also committed to address the issue of sustainability which is critical although I know more challenging to achieve given its remit and focus on international reach. However, it is imperative that we all strive to reduce our carbon footprint and I am heartened to see plans being developed by Culture Ireland to encourage sustainable tourin. Culture Ireland will develop more sustainable touring models with a greater focus on joined up tours to minimise travel and the use of the most environmentally friendly means of travel practicable.
What I wish to say today is summed up very neatly in Culture Ireland’s vision which I quote from the strategy
Contemporary Irish arts are unique and treasured and deserving of a worldwide audience.
I know that Culture Ireland’s commitment to create new opportunities for Irish artists is appreciated by many of you here. I would like to make particular mention at this stage of our wonderful visual artist Niamh O’Malley who has been selected to represent Ireland at the Venice Art Biennale 2022. Ireland at Venice is an initiative of Culture Ireland in partnership with the Arts Council and represents the single biggest State support for a visual artist every two years.
It is a great achievement to win the honour to represent Ireland at the world’s most significant visual arts exhibition and I congratulate you Niamh and the curators Cliodhna Shaffrey and Michael Hill, here at Temple Bar Gallery + Studios.
I had the pleasure of meeting Niamh with Cliodhna and Michael last year and hearing first-hand of the plans for exhibiting in Venice. Exhibiting at the Biennale provides a high profile platform for the international art world to engage with Irish contemporary art practice and to showcase the strength of Irish creativity work on the global stage. Niamh I know is already on the road to achieving global success and undoubtedly the platform of the Venice Biennale will increase her global recognition.
As with all the artists who are supported to travel by Culture Ireland, you have all worked very hard and taken this honour to represent Ireland very seriously and ensure that the best possible exhibition will be delivered and I wish you the success you deserve.
Before concluding today, I wish to congratulate the team at Culture Ireland, led by Director Christine Sisk, and the great members of the Expert Advisory Committee who support and guide them, chaired by Kieran Hanrahan.
Culture Ireland’s new strategy reflects the important role Culture Ireland plays in the delivery of the Government’s aims under Global Ireland 2025 to increase Ireland’s impact worldwide. Given the changes that are currently impacting our world we are increasingly aware of the important role played by culture in achieving greater understanding between peoples. It is our arts that has given us a unique global reputation and for this we owe a huge debt to our artists.
Glacaim buíochas libh ar fad as bheith linn inniu don ócáid speisialta seo. Bhain mé an-taitneamh go deo as mo chuairt ar stiúideonna na n-ealaíontóirí agus an obair iontach atá idir lámha a fheiceáil. Táim ag súil go mbeidh deiseanna go leor ag na healaíontóirí gan mhoill lena gcuid saothar a thaispeáint ní hamháin ar fud na tíre, ach ar fud an domhain mhóir chomh maith.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh.