Speaking to delegates attending the Forum for Local Government and the Arts Annual General Meeting in Omagh’s Strule Arts Centre the Minister said: “Having quality arts facilities across Northern Ireland to showcase creative and cultural talent builds confidence and a sense of pride in local people.
“Over the summer I have met representatives from a wide range of arts organisations, from community based voluntary arts to professional arts organisations, to listen, learn and to get a feel for the issues impacting on the arts sector.
“It is clear to me that Northern Ireland has an abundance of raw talent, enthusiastic and creative people who are passionate about their work. A career in the arts can be tough – most practitioners are highly skilled and highly educated but their chosen profession is characterised in many cases by low pay and short term contracts.
“To encourage them, local government and the Arts Council for Northern Ireland must continue to work in partnership to ensure that the arts are part of our culture and way of life. Having good facilities in place is part of that strategy.”
The Minister said that the Forum is an important vehicle to debate local involvement in the arts as the review of public administration moves forward. He said that while the Executive is currently looking again at some aspects of RPA it is local people that should be taking the decisions which impact on local communities.
Turning to funding for the arts, the Minister said: “Public funding is needed to support and sustain our arts organisations which form the backbone of our creative economy. I wish to assure you that I am negotiating hard in the Comprehensive Spending Review to try to secure the best outcome I can for future funding for the arts. However, there will be many and pressing competing priorities for government funds and negotiations will be tough.”
The Minister concluded: “Investment in arts and culture strengthens the economy and fuels economic regeneration by supporting local jobs and stimulating consumer spending. We must all play our role in relation to funding so that we can all enjoy these benefits. The coming year promises to be a challenging one for all involved in the arts.”
Notes to Editors:
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