Madam, - The appointment of a new Arts Council is imminent. Under the new Arts Bill, the number of members of the Council will be reduced from 17 to nine.
In these circumstances, the make-up of that new Council has never been more critical. We would urge the Minister for Arts, John O'Donoghue, when making these appointments, to take the opportunity to appoint an all-new Council which avoids the traditional charge of political or geographical influences on appointments, and which enjoys the confidence of the arts community, the Government and the public.
The recent cut of €4 million in arts funding by Government was compounded by the variety of decisions subsequently made by the Arts Council, leading to a situation where the artistic life and vitality as well as the very sustainability of many arts organisations is under threat.
In these circumstances, it is critical that this opportunity to secure the confidence of the arts community be seized. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL COLGAN,
Director,
Gate Theatre;
JOHN CRUMLISH,
Manager,
Galway Arts Festival;
GERRY GODLEY,
Director, Improvised
Music Company;
GARRY HYNES,
Artistic Director,
Druid Theatre Company;
JEROME HYNES,
Chief Executive,
Wexford Festival Opera;
JOHN KELLY,
Chief Executive,
Irish Chamber Orchestra;
FERGUS LINEHAN,
Director,
Dublin Theatre Festival;
MARK MULQUEEN,
Director,
Film Institute of Ireland;
MARTIN MURPHY,
Artistic Director,
Team Educational
Theatre Company.