Funding for arts sector projects must be protected during the review of the operation of the Arts Council following the revelations concerning spending by the organisation on an unsuccessful IT transformation scheme, according to the Musicians Union of Ireland (MUI).
Following a meeting of the MUI Executive this week in Liberty Hall in Dublin, MUI Vice-President, David Agnew, said: “The Arts Council provides key funding streams for cultural workers. We are specifically concerned about musicians and the possible impact on them of any freeze on the Arts Council’s operation during a review. This cannot happen and would only result in damage to the arts sector and increase issues for musicians who depend on performing at cultural events which it helps fund.”
MUI President, Niamh Parsons, said: “Artists must not suffer due to administrative errors. While we fully support a thorough review into the operation of the Arts Council so that public confidence is restored and it can get on with its key role within the wider cultural sector, we call upon politicians to ensure that this process doesn’t interfere with the lives of thousands of artists across the country.”
She added: “It would be a tragic mistake to freeze the funding of projects and only compound any damage done due to the current issues related to the operation of the Arts Council.”
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Robbie Purfield, said: “The MUI is a SIPTU affiliate along with Irish Equity and Praxis Artist Union. As the overall Union representing these cultural workers, we will work to ensure there is as little disruption of key State funding for the sector as possible while a review is carried out. Arts sector workers must not become the innocent victims of any mistakes that may or may not have been made within the Arts Council.”
