ARTISTS of every discipline are increasingly discovering they have no place to play.
Which is why the Seanad Public Consultation Committee, chaired by the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad, Limerick’s Senator Maria Byrne, is seeking submissions from organisations and individuals engaged in cultural production or working in artistic industries to consider proposals on how best to support and improve culture and arts infrastructure in Ireland.
In recent decades, many arts spaces, studios, music venues,
and late-night cultural spaces have closed, leaving artists and cultural practitioners with fewer opportunities to create, perform, and share their work.
Senator Byrne said that “while some examples already demonstrate how cultural infrastructure can be developed in communities, including creative use of vacant buildings and community-led cultural facilities, we must continue to listen to how we can improve and support cultural activity over the long term and to reduce barriers that prevent the activation of such spaces”.
The committee “openly invite members of the artistic and cultural communities, both as individuals and organisations, along with any other interested parties, to submit policy proposals and other
constructive ideas”.
The Committee will publish a report in which it will make
findings and recommendations, and request a debate with the Minister or relevant Ministers in the Seanad.
Submissions for the programme must be received by the clerk to the Committee no later than 4pm on Friday April 10.
For more information or to take part, the guidelines for submissions are available on the Seanad website.