AFTER MONTHS of unprecedented delay and speculation, the new members of the Arts Council have been announced. The six appointees join the council at a critical time as the conditions under which the arts have flourished no longer exist. Steady growth in funding was vital to the creation of these conditions; so too was the emergence of a more progressive government policy vis-a-vis their role as an integral and thriving part of our society.
Of course, this reversal of fortune mirrors the far more problematic difficulties facing the economy and our public services. It must be noted, however, that the increased resources of recent years nurtured and sustained a concomitant burgeoning of creative work - in theatre, film, music and the literary and visual imagination. That, in turn, has enriched individuals and communities and has earned plaudits abroad. A report from New York in this newspaper last week on the plethora of Irish plays staged in the city this year - mostly to acclaim - is but one manifestation of the fruits of this essential public subsidy and investment.
The new members are perhaps lucky insofar as they can distance themselves from last week's tough funding cuts which were decided before they joined the council. They will, however, face immediate challenges in maintaining the stability of the arts in the uncertain financial climate; such challenges will test their skills, commitment and especially their powers of advocacy.
The warning by deputy chairman Maurice Foley that "the newly appointed council will have to undertake a wide-ranging review of the allocations of public funding for the arts for 2010 and beyond" must strike an ominous note, even for those whose funding was untouched or minimally reduced this time around.
Although cuts were expected in the wake of the budget, it remains to be seen what curtailment of activity is likely as a result but the plans and aspirations of several organisations are likely to suffer. While creativity may not be stymied, the means of delivering it to audiences and the general public will.
Overall, the council strategy to prioritise key organisation and major festivals has been a sensible one. It has managed to keep severe wounds to a minimum, but those organisations like the Irish Writers' Centre that have lost funding altogether will struggle to survive and the Abbey Theatre's cut of 16 per cent must not be allowed to undo the achievements that saved that institution from demise only a few years ago.
Filling the council vacancies took far too long, but the sector might take some comfort from the calibre of Minister Martin Cullen's appointments: they bring with them wide experience and an abundance of expertise across the art-forms. In particular, the Minister has secured the talents of a widely respected and formidable chairwoman, Pat Moylan. The "imaginative debate" called for by Abbey Theatre director Fiach MacConghail might well begin with some championing of the need for and value of art, particularly in times of turmoil such as we are going through right now.