Madam, - I note from the article "A word in your ear, Minister" (The Arts, May 15th) that none of the featured stakeholders from the arts highlights the important contribution that the new Minister can make in relation to private sector investment.
The last year has seen significant new relationships for Ulster Bank Group with both the Dublin Theatre Festival and the Belfast Festival at Queen's, an extension in the MBNA relationship with the Irish Chamber Orchestra to a total of 10 years and the launch of the innovative AIB Seeds campaign with Rough Magic, to mention a few from the financial sector alone.
As further evidence of the solid platform of private sector involvement in the arts, the 89 submissions to the Business to Arts Awards for 2008 represented over €6 million of cash and in-kind sponsorship.
While the cultural sector asks the Minister to focus on the public purse for developing greater funding of arts and culture, I think there is significant potential to develop new income streams through effective policy-making. The Minister has an opportunity, both within the Department of Arts and via collaboration with other Departments, to develop innovative approaches to encouraging philanthropy, sponsorship and patronage of the arts in Ireland which will both complement and enhance public funding and allow the arts to make a genuine cultural, social and economic impact.
We look forward to sharing our ideas with the Minister over the coming months.
- Yours, etc,
STUART McLAUGHLIN, Chief Executive, Business to Arts, East Essex Street, Dublin 2.