Sir, – The Arts Council established Aosdána in 1981 to honour those whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland and to encourage and assist members in devoting their energies fully to their art.
The work of Irish artists is the bedrock of a multi-billion-euro cultural industry but Ian Kilroy, (Opinion & Analysis, April 16th), concentrates, almost exclusively, on the funding of Aosdána – the cost rather than the value.
Aosdána is an affiliation of individual artists who devote themselves to their art. It has included Nobel laureates, artists across all disciplines who have received international recognition of their work and the founders of most of the cultural institutions of the State.
The cnuas, a subsidy means-tested by the Arts Council which represents substantially less than half the average industrial wage, is available to members to enable them to concentrate exclusively on their work and to help to subvent the not inconsiderable expense of producing art. Many members who benefit from the cnuas have forgone secure, pensionable employment and will never retire. Their work will, however, continue to benefit Irish society long after they die.
Aosdána has always supported the recognition of other groups who wish to form similar bodies and has continually sought to broaden its membership.
There is nothing remotely secret about the work of Aosdána. The art that its members produce is available to all. Its proceedings are published and everyone is welcome to attend the public session of the annual general assembly. Yours, etc,
MARY FitzGERALD,
Chair of the Toscaireacht,
Aosdána,
70 Merrion Square,
Dublin 2