The arts should not be reserved for the elite or for the "in crowd" in cities, according to the Minister for Arts, Mr O'Donoghue.
Mr O'Donoghue made his comments yesterday when he announced more than €1 million in funding for two arts projects in south Kerry.
The Minister said the arts were seen as something reserved for the elite, for artistic quarters of big cities and as something chic and trendy.
"I have, however, always held an inclusive view of what is meant by 'the arts'," Mr O'Donoghue said in Waterville. "It always seemed to be that everyone is at least capable of enjoying the artistic work of others and that you need not be specially talented to be able to enjoy creating."
The funding announced yesterday comes under ACCESS, the Arts and Culture Enhancement Support Scheme for building projects.
The grant aid is for 85 per cent of the costs of two arts projects, one in Waterville and Kenmare.
The bulk of the funding announcement of €870,000 is for the three-year-old Tech Amergin Community Education Centre in Waterville.
The centre is called after a Milesian poet, Amergin, and the Tech comes from its location in Waterville's old technical school which dates to 1938.
About 30 groups of adults take a variety of courses at the centre including pottery, furniture making and photography in the Waterville centre.
There are also poetry readings, a diploma course in regional studies run by University College Cork.
Irish as well as English for immigrant Polish workers in the hotel and fishing industry is also offered.
Ms Fiona de Buis, director of Tech Amergin, said the centre had given locals a new lease of life. Those taking courses range in age from 18 to 93, she said, and a number of students were in their eighties.
"Our main problem is space. We don't have any performance space," Ms de Buis said.
The plans include a 100-seat auditorium and exhibition space as well as workspaces for the popular ceramics courses and a café.
An additional €230,000 was announced by Mr O'Donoghue for the Carnegie Arts Centre attached to the library in Kenmare.
The Minister said that apart from the benefits to the people of Kenmare, south Kerry and the Beara peninsula, the Carnegie Arts Centre would add significantly to the tourism stock to the region.