JOHN DEATON,
Madam, - How disappointing it was to read the letter from Eve Kelly and other Arts Council clients opposing the Arts Bill 2002 and, in particular, the proposed Standing Committee for Traditional Arts.
The Bill was a result of a most democratic process. The Minister invited the public to submit observations and proposals. This invitation received a great response and was summarised in the Dorgan Report. The Minister then arranged a weekend conference in Dun Laoghaire, which was attended by interested bodies and was reported on by Price Waterhouse Cooper.
The traditional arts have long been the poor relation in the arts world, receiving little or no support from the Arts Council. Yet, thanks to Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann and other voluntary groups Ireland has retained and expanded a vibrant native art form at a time when many other developed countries have lost their own tradition of music, song and dance. Indeed, surveys have revealed that traditional music is one of the top three reasons why tourists visit our country.
To survive and develop the traditional arts need recognition and support. Sadly, the Arts Council has never provided these in any meaningful way. The Dorgan Report acknowledged the deep dissatisfaction expressed by the traditional arts movements in this regard and stated that this problem would have to be resolved.
The Price Waterhouse Cooper Report heard that less than one per cent of Arts Council funding has gone towards the traditional arts. It acknowledged that there was a need to provide new structures.
It is clear from the Bill that the Minister has taken on board the conclusions drawn from the consultative process. The Bill provides for the formation of a Standing Committee for the Traditional Arts within the new Arts Council structure. The formation of this committee will allow a forum for the traditional arts to receive the recognition and support, which they deserve and which have been denied to them by successive Arts Councils.
With the exception of the Arts Council all contributors to the consultation process agreed that the traditional arts had been very poorly funded over the last 50 years. Ms Kelly's letter makes no proposals as to how to remedy this situation, presumably concurring with the Arts Council's view that funding has been "adequate".
I have no doubt that the Standing Committee for the Traditional Arts will be a great success. There are many challenges ahead for the traditional arts, but properly resourced and structured we can conserve and develop native traditional art forms unique to Ireland and which are now extinct in many other countries. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN DEATON,
Dundrum,
Dublin 14.