News
Kevin reports
`On arriving at the Dail on 3rd November alongside Stephen Brown, our chair, Willie White of the National Campaign for the Arts and Anne O’Gorman from the National Youth Council to present at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Sport, Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs, we were greeted like rock stars at the gate by a large and committed group of students. They were of course protesting against the proposed increase in student fees and their sense of frustration was palpable.
We disappeared into the relative calm of the Dail and awaited our turn to present to the committee on the topic of promoting art, craft and culture in Ireland. No less passionate we collectively argued for investing in art, in communities and in creativity.
Anne and a terrific bunch of young people (Lee, Sam and Eimear) led the charge outlining the impact the arts have had on their lives and the importance of sustaining access to the arts for young people. Stephen and I focussed on the contribution made by the voluntary and amateur arts with groups operating at the centre of communities and providing sustainable opportunities for people to participate in the arts. Willie brought the presentations to a close with a clearly articulated case for the value of the arts to Irish society and the Irish economy linking the achievements of the Irish cultural glitterati with the vital foundations that encouraged and nurtured them on the way.
I was struck by the sense of pride in Ireland’s cultural achievements by the assembled group of TD’s and Senators and by their desire to carry our message to the decision making table. They were brutally honest about the likelihood of cuts, but they understood the value and what might be lost if care was not taken. As always it remains to be seen if that desire remains strong in the face of mounting pressures. We might yet need to gather at the barricades like the students earlier in the day – let’s hope, though, that our politicians make decisions based on how we can build a better society – not just a cheaper one`
You can read the Voluntary Arts Ireland brief for this presentation at http://www.vaireland.org/15262
Joint Oireachtas Committee Presentation by VAI
Date: 09 Nov 2010
Voluntary Arts Ireland made a representation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Sport, Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs earlier in the month.Kevin reports
`On arriving at the Dail on 3rd November alongside Stephen Brown, our chair, Willie White of the National Campaign for the Arts and Anne O’Gorman from the National Youth Council to present at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Sport, Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs, we were greeted like rock stars at the gate by a large and committed group of students. They were of course protesting against the proposed increase in student fees and their sense of frustration was palpable.
We disappeared into the relative calm of the Dail and awaited our turn to present to the committee on the topic of promoting art, craft and culture in Ireland. No less passionate we collectively argued for investing in art, in communities and in creativity.
Anne and a terrific bunch of young people (Lee, Sam and Eimear) led the charge outlining the impact the arts have had on their lives and the importance of sustaining access to the arts for young people. Stephen and I focussed on the contribution made by the voluntary and amateur arts with groups operating at the centre of communities and providing sustainable opportunities for people to participate in the arts. Willie brought the presentations to a close with a clearly articulated case for the value of the arts to Irish society and the Irish economy linking the achievements of the Irish cultural glitterati with the vital foundations that encouraged and nurtured them on the way.
I was struck by the sense of pride in Ireland’s cultural achievements by the assembled group of TD’s and Senators and by their desire to carry our message to the decision making table. They were brutally honest about the likelihood of cuts, but they understood the value and what might be lost if care was not taken. As always it remains to be seen if that desire remains strong in the face of mounting pressures. We might yet need to gather at the barricades like the students earlier in the day – let’s hope, though, that our politicians make decisions based on how we can build a better society – not just a cheaper one`
You can read the Voluntary Arts Ireland brief for this presentation at http://www.vaireland.org/15262
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