A meet and greet session between Cork City TDs and 25 local artists was held at Civic Trust House this week. The meeting was one of a series of events across the country initiated by the National Campaign for the Arts. The artists met informally with Fine Gael TDs Jerry Buttimer and Dara Murphy, Labour TDs Kathleen Lynch and Ciarán Lynch and Sinn Féin TD, Jonathan O’Brien.

The session was opened by Allin Gray of the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras who gave spoke about the National Campaign for the Arts and the need to progress from a political view of the arts sector solely in terms of jobs and tourism product. He expressed the need to work together with the government to produce a new vision of what it is to be Irish, and what Ireland will be in the future. He said that the meeting was about engaging and starting that discourse, and invited those present to mingle informally and voice their individual concerns.

Among the informal conversations that followed, Geraldine O’Neill of Graffiti Theatre Company spoke to TDs of the urgent need for the new government to stop the erosion of the arts in the education system which has happened over the last two years. Ciarán Lynch committed to liase further with her on the matter and to raise the question with the relevant minister. Nicki ffrench Davis of Civic Trust House spoke to Jerry Buttimer and Dara Murphy about the Fine Gael pre-election manifesto. Fine Gael had proposed a new arts and culture television channel that would broadcast arts events nationally and showcase Irish work abroad on an online channel. Jerry Buttimer promised to bring the issue to Minister for Arts Jimmy Deenihan and report back.

Kath Gordon of Cork Midsummer Festival spoke to the TDs about funding pressures, pointing out that state funding only accounted for one third of the festival’s budget but is essential for leveraging private sector support. Jessica Carson of Mayfield Community Arts Centre expressed her concerns around the lack of state funding for community access to the arts and creative activities. She pointed out that supoport to this area represents a very small slice of the pie overall and that marginalised groups receive the least support.

Ger O’Riordain of Corcadorca Theatre Company impressed on TDs the need for long-term vision. He gave the example of the new flagship Triskel Christchurch, which has been in development over 30 years. He told them there is a need to get the conditions for further development right and not take the foot off the pedal, pushing his point particularly with Jonathan O’Brien and Dara Murphy.

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