An Chomhairle Ealaíon
An Dathadú Tuarascáil Bhliantúil maille le Cuntais don bhliain dar chrioch 31ú Nollag 1991. Tíolacadh don Rialtas
agus leagadh faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas de bhun Altanna 6 (3) agus 7 (1) den Act Ealaíon, 1951.
Fortieth Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st December 1991. Presented to the Government and laid
before each House of the Oireachtas, pursuant to Sections 6 (3) and 7 (1) of the Arts Act, 1951.
ISBN 0906627 49 4
ISSN 0790-1593
Members
Colm Ó hEocha, Chairman
Dermot Bolger
Michael Colgan
Máire de Paor
Bríd Dukes
Arthur Gibney
Patrick Hall
Charles Hennessy
Ted Hickey
Richard Kearney
Proinsias Mac Aonghusa
Larry McCluskey
Paul McGuinness
Micheal O'Siadhail
Donald Potter
Eric Sweeney
Kathleen Watkins
Staff
(at September 1992)
Director
Officers
Literature, Community Arts and Festivals
Visual Arts
Film
Drama and Personnel
Opera and Development
Music and Traditional Arts
Popular Music
Regions
Education
European Affairs
Finance and Administration
Executive Assistants
Secretarial Assistants
Receptionist
Adrian Munnelly
Laurence Cassidy
Sarah Finlay
Paul Freaney
Phelim Donlon
Patricia Quinn (until April 1992)
Dermot McLaughlin
Keith Donald (until April 1992)
Emer McNamara (until December 1991)
Kieran Walsh (from May 1992)
Marian Fitzgibbon (from June 1992)
David McConnell
Kevin Healy
Nuala O'Byme
Bernadette O'Leary
Jennifer Traynor
Patricia Moore
Mary Hickey
Paula Harold
Edward Redding
Kathryn Cahille
70 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
Telephone: (01) 611840
Fax: (01) 761302
An Chomhairle Ealaíon
An Chomhairle Ealaíon/The Arts Council is an independent body set up in 1951 to promote and assist the arts. The
Council operates under the Arts Acts 1951 and 1973 and provides a wide-ranging programme of financial assistance
and special services. Support of the individual arts practitioner is a fundamental part of the Council's mission and and
grant-aid is given to organisations and groups. Council policies are directed towards providing access to the arts widely
throughout the country. The Council also acts as an adviser on artistic matters to Government and has a statutory right
to make representations to planning authorities in certain instances where artistic or architectural considerations apply.
The Council consists of a board of not more than seventeen members appointed by An Taoiseach. The present Council
was appointed in 1988 and its term of office expires in 1993. The Council usually meets eleven times a year to set
Council policies and make decisions within the terms of the Arts Acts. These policies and decisions are implemented
by a staff headed by a Director, appointed by the Council. The Arts Council, as a publicly accountable body, publishes
an annual report and accounts to provide the Oireachtas and the general public with an overview of the year's work.
Annual grants from the Oireachtas and from the net proceeds of the National Lottery are the Council's principal sources
of income. These grants are supplemented by income from local authorities and other bodies, usually designated for
specific schemes or projects. The Council also administers a number of trust funds.
The arts are defined in the Arts Acts and include: painting, sculpture, architecture, cinema, print-making, design,
theatre, dance, music, opera, literature and 'the fine arts and applied arts generally'.
Contents
Chairman's Introduction
Finance
National Lottery, Obituary
Membership, Employment Policy
Arts Council Publications
Aosdána
Literature
Visual Arts
Film
Drama
Dance
Traditional Arts
Popular Music
Opera
Music
Jazz
Arts Centres
Education
Development
Arts Development in the Regions
Community Arts and Arts Festivals
Arts/Community/Education
Capital
Sundry
Accounts
Page
7
8
9
10
10
11
13
17
22
24
27
28
31
32
33
36
37
38
40
41
43
45
46
46
47
Chairman's Introduction
1991 was the third year in office of the present Council and a year when many of its plans, policies and objectives
began to come to fruition. The arts in Ireland have taken on a significant role in the development and health of our
country and this is now beginning to be recognised by the Government and public alike. The inclusion in the
Programme for Economic and Social Progress of a funding target for the Council of £13m per annum inflation-adjusted
— equivalent now to approximately £15m — was encouraging for the Council and for all those working in the arts.
The often difficult relationship between art and its funding is made all the more crucial at a time when the country's
public finances are under severe strain. The question of how the Arts Council's spending of its budget impacts on the
public, a public which includes artists and others working in the arts, is paramount. It is a matter which the Council
must always keep to the fore. In addressing it, it becomes clear that it is not a simple matter of public awareness or of
simply providing the public with art but rather a question of integration. It is the fostering of a dialogue between artists
and the community in which they live. More specifically, the Council's policies in community arts, festivals, education
and its regional support are endeavouring to create these contexts for integration.
Dublin was the designated European City of Culture for 1991 and many of the Council's activities complemented those
of the organisers of the resultant celebrations. The European dimension of the arts is significant as we move closer to a
more integrated Europe with its diversity of cultures. There is no longer a sense of the cultural dominance of centres
such as Paris, London or Amsterdam. It is perhaps an exaggerated analogy, but a characteristic hallmark of the
Renaissance period was somewhat similar, in that there were regional centres which encompassed a cultural wholeness
without need for outside reference. This regionalisation is to a great extent the model for a Europe of the regions. The
Council acknowledges the growing importance of communities creating their own context for artistic activity,
appreciation and experience.
As part of this integration of art and the community, the Council identified the need for recognition and appreciation of
the work done both by artists and by arts managers. The Arts Management Conference held in the Royal Hospital
Kilmainham, in November 1991 and the recommendations of the Council's management development committee,
began a process of engendering such public recognition.
1991 saw an even further growth in arts activity and in the number of people involved in the arts in Ireland. With a
growing interest from the private sector, encouraged by Cothú, and an increasing audience for art, the Council no
longer needs to be the sole mechanism for support. It now works increasingly in partnership with other funding bodies
and many important arts events take place without Council support. This diversification is very healthy, and one which
makes the Council's role all the more vital as the State support system, in co-ordinating, in initiating and in encouraging
excellence.
Again this year I would like to thank my colleagues on the Council for their support, their time and expertise and their
unflagging enthusiasm. I thank the Director and his staff for their professionalism and thoroughness in carrying out the
work of the Council.
I would also like to thank the outgoing Taoiseach, Charles J. Haughey for his support over the years and look forward
very much to building a good working relationship with the Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds and the Minister for the Arts
and Culture, Tom Kitt.
Tá borradh agus fás ins na healaíona in Éirinn. Tá meas tuillte acu sa bhaile agus i gcéin, a bhuíochas le tacaíocht
daoine agus eagraíochtaí ar fuaid na tíre sin ní fhéadfadh an Chomhairle Ealaíon seirbhís atá ríthábhachtach a chur ar
fáil do mhuintir na hÉireann.
The Arts Council: Three-Year Financial Summary
1991
£
Income
State Funding
Other Income
Expenditure
Literature
European Literary and
Translation Prize project
Visual Arts
Film
Drama
Dance
Traditional Music
Opera
Music
Arts Centres
Education
Community Arts and Festivals
Regions
Capital
Sundry
Administration
Capital Account
Outturn for year
Opening Balance
Closing Balance
Trust Funds
Fixed Assets
Total Assets less Current Liabilities at 31st December
1991
%
9,956,000
710,000
10,666,000
692,000
1990
£
1989
£
9,478,000 7,149,000
277,000
274,000
9,755,000 7,423,000
6.4%
587,000
450,000
276,000
2.6%
1,093,000 10.1% 1,017,000
787,000
336,000
3.1%
254,000
211/000
3,632,000 33.7% 3,362,000 2,863,000
301,000
2.8%
321,000
214,000
270,000
2.5%
213,000
175,000
563,000
5.2%
513,000
393,000
465,000
4.3%
384,000
320,000
651,000
6.0%
542,000
422,000
208,000
1.9%
263,000
234,000
264,000
2.5%
232,000
197,000
267,000
2.5%
213,000
161,000
846,000
7.9%
986,000
249,000
212,000
2.0%
125,000
117/000
695,000
6.5%
666,000
591,000
10,771,000 100.0% 9,678,000 7,384,000
8,000
10,779,000
-113,000
-51,000
-164,000
140,000
297,000
£273,000
60,000
28,000
9,738,000 7,412,000
17,000
11,000
-68,000
-79,000
-51,000
-68,000
128,000
119,000
289,000
229,000
£366,000 £280,000
Detailed lists of grants, etc., are given at the end of each section of the report. Full financial statements will be found on
pages 47 to 55.
Finance
The Council's state funding in 1991 came from two sources: a grant-in-aid voted by Dáil Éireann, £4.968 million and
£4.988 million from the National Lottery Fund: a total of £9.956 million compared with £9.478 million in 1990. Other
Council income for 1991 amounted to £710,000, largely arising from grants designated for specific purposes received
from other organisations, including £291,000 allocated from the EC Action Culturelle Programme towards the cost of
two important Council promotions in the field of Literature (q.v.). Details of these grants will be found at the end of the
section reports and in Note 2 to the Council's accounts.
Direct support for the individual artist during 1991 amounted to £1,050,000, almost 10% of total expenditure, including
a provision of £552,000 for Aosdána, and £107,000 for awards under the ARTFLIGHT travel scheme operated in
conjunction with Aer Lingus. Many more individuals received indirect support and employment through the Council's
grants to organisations.
The Council welcomed the statement in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress (January 1991) that
"..(the Government) are moving steadily towards the Arts Council's funding target of £12-£13 million and our aim is to
reach this reasonably rapidly and as circumstances permit. The achievement of this figure will allow the Arts Council
to pursue even more vigorously its already very successful policies of encouraging creativity in the arts and providing
wider and easier access to them throughout the country."
It was, therefore, with considerable disappointment that the Council learned of the repeat (£9.956 m.) level of funding
for 1992. In view of significant additional commitments already entered into, some areas of funding had, of necessity,
to suffer cutbacks in 1992.
Council's funding since 1989:
[£m]
Oireachtas
Grant-in-aid
National Lottery
Total State funding
1989
1990
1991
1992 (est.)
4.201
2.948
7.149
4.530
4.948
9.478
4968
4.988
9.956
4.968
4.988
9.956
National Lottery
So as to provide a full picture of State funding for the contemporary arts. Arts Council Reports for 1987, 1988,1989
and 1990 listed payments made direct by the Department of the Taoiseach to certain organisations most of which also
were grant-aided by the Council. In 1991, the only such payments were:
Irish Museum of Modem Art: current
Irish Museum of Modem Art: capital
Irish Writers' Centre, Dublin
Irish Film Board (re Irish Film Centre)
National Concert Hall
£
985,000
565,000
65,000
25,000
200,000
National Lottery funds expended by the Government on beneficiary projects totalled £88.408 million in 1991. Of this
sum, the Arts Council received £4.988 million and other beneficiaries involved in the contemporary arts received
£1.840 million as listed above. A payment of £531,000 in connection with Dublin 1991 — European City of Culture
could also be regarded, in part, as assisting the contemporary arts.
Those who wish to research this subject further should examine the Annual Reports of the An Post National Lottery
Company and the Oireachtas Appropriation Accounts (the Government's annual accounts) under Vote 3 (Taoiseach)
and other Votes.
ARTFLIGHT
Early in 1991 an imaginative new awards scheme commenced. Ireland being an island, arts workers here sometimes are
at a relative disadvantage compared with people who do not have to cross seas to visit other countries. Operated in
conjunction with Aer Lingus, ARTFLIGHT is a scheme that makes awards available to creative and interpretative
artists in all fields, and arts administrators, to enable them to fly from Ireland to any destination on the Aer Lingus
network. Successful applicants must satisfy the Council that there is an artistic benefit to them and, where applicable,
their associated organisation.
During 1991,696 ARTFLIGHT awards were made at a cost to the Council of £107,200.
Obituary
Seán Ó Faoláin, the writer and Saoi of Aosdána, died on 20th April 1991 in his 91st year. He will be remembered as a
great writer, especially of short stories and biographies and as editor in the 1940s of The Bell — a remarkable
magazine that provided a publishing outlet for young writers and stood for values such as freedom of expression,
integrity and fearlessness in an era when censorship exercised a stultifying effect on Irish writing generally. Seán Ó
Faoláin was Director/Chairman of the Council from 1956 to 1959.
Membership of Council
1991 was the third year of office of the Council appointed by the Taoiseach in December 1988. During the year the
Council met twelve times in plenary session. The Members met on very many other occasions in sub-committee to deal
with specific areas of the Council's work.
Staff
Keith Donald, who had been Popular Music Officer since February 1988, resigned in April 1992 to take up the position
as first Director of the new organisation, MusicBase. He will continue to advise the Director of the Arts Council on
popular music matters.
Sarah Finlay joined the staff in September 1991 as Visual Arts Officer.
Marian Fitzgibbon, a former officer of the Council, re-joined the staff in June 1992 as European Affairs Officer, a joint
appointment in co-operation with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Emer McNamara, who had been on the staff since July 1990, resigned in December 1991.
Patricia Quinn, an officer since 1984, most recently acting as Opera and Development Officer, resigned in April 1992
to take up the position of Cultural Manager to Temple Bar Properties Ltd.
Kieran Walsh, formerly Education Officer at Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, joined the staff as Education Officer in May
1992.
Safety, Health and Welfare
The Council is vigilant as regards the safety, health and welfare of its employees and will shortly introduce a Safety
Statement as required by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989.
Employment Policy and Equality
The Arts Council is committed to the ideal of a society based on principles of equality and equal opportunity and
welcomes the statement on Equality by the Social Partners in the 1991 Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
The Council is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity in its employment practices; and, in particular, aims to
ensure that no potential or actual employee receives more or less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour,
ethnic or national origins, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disability or religious beliefs.
It is a condition of receipt of grant-aid that organisations assisted by the Council agree to avoid any form of
discriminatory practice and to pay particular regard to promoting equal opportunities in all areas of their work.
Arts Council Publications, 1991–1992
1991:
"Awards 1991" ISBN 0906627 40 0
"1989 Annual Report" 53 pp ISBN 0906627 41 9
"Aspects of Personal Taxation in Ireland for Artists" by Martin J. Mulchrone 30 pp ISBN 0906627 42 7
"Organising An Exhibition" by Siuban Barry 47 pp ISBN 0906627 43 5
"The Care and Handling of Works of Art" by John Hunt 40 pp ISBN 0906627 44 3
"Directory of Arts Managers in Ireland 1991" 86 pp ISBN 0906627 451
"Arts Council Exhibition Schemes" Leaflet
"Second Dublin International Writers' Conference 18-21 June 1991" 20 pp programme
"The Art of Managing the Arts" Conference programme
"The Arts Council-Aer Lingus Travel Awards" Leaflet, 1st edition
1992 (to August)
"1990 Annual Report" 51 pp ISBN 0906627 47 8
"ARTFLIGHT — Arts Council-Aer Lingus Travel Awards" Leaflet, 2nd edition
"Awards 1992" ISBN 0906627 48 6
"The Guide to Exhibition Venues in Ireland" 150 pp ISBN 0906627 46 X
"Art Matters, No. 12" ISSN 0790 746 X
Aosdána
The Toscairí during this period were John Buckley, Anthony Cronin, John Kinsella, Gene Lambert, Hugh Maxton,
Conleth O'Connor, Ulick O' Connor, Jane O'Leary, Patrick Pye, and Imogen Stuart. On a number of occasions during
the year the Toscairí discussed the matter of the non- appointment of the Irish National Commission for UNESCO.
Representations were made to the Department of Education where responsibility for UNESCO lies. The difficulties in
having the matter addressed by the Department were compounded by the changes in the occupants of the Ministerial
office. Aosdána expressed the gravest dissatisfaction at the lack of action by the Department on this matter.
Representations made to the Department of Education by the Toscairí in connection with the UNESCO conference on
the status of the artist in Helsinki, May/June 1992 gave rise to an invitation by the Department to Aosdána to nominate
a Member as an Irish delegate. This invitation was accepted by the Toscairí and the Member nominated was Mr Ulick
O'Connor.
The Toscairí arranged for a special general assembly in response to a request of the June 1991 General Assembly to
discuss issues related to the general perception of Aosdána. The assembly took place on 13th December 1992 and was
attended by sixty-three members.
Aosdána was concerned at the claims received by Members from the Department of Social Welfare for PRSI payments.
The matter was considered on a number of occasions and is still under review.
During the year Aosdána considered the provision for live music by RTE arising from the Broadcasting Act, 1990.
Representations were made to RTE and to the Minister for Communications in connection with reform of the Act to
take account of the statutory obligation of RTE to support the arts. Legal advice sought stated that, while RTE has
authority to promote the arts, it has no legal obligation to do so.
Aosdána is in continuing dialogue with RTE on the matter. Aosdána made representations to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs in connection with the "1,000 days of Salman Rushdie's death sentence". The Toscairí were not satisfied with
the response from the Minister which was to the effect that the Irish government was joining with its counterparts
throughout the world in making representations to the Iranian authorities. Aosdána requested direct Irish Government
representation.
The Toscairí noted that there is only one Saoi out of a possible five. Aosdána membership at 31st December was 149
with 74 Members in receipt of the Cnuas.
The Toscairí received representations from a number of Members in connection with the purchasing policy of the Irish
Museum of Modern Art. It was decided that in advance of adopting a position on the matter, a meeting would be
secured with the IMMA Director, Declan McGonagle.
Cnuais to Writers (32)
Cnuais to Visual Artists (36)
Cnuais to Composers (6)
Pension Scheme/Arts Council contribution
Administration
£
200,749
286,958
39,750
24,482
11,765
563,704
Members of Aosdána
at 31st December 1991
Visual Arts
Arthur Armstrong
Robert Ballagh
John Behan
Pauline Bewick
Michael Biggs
Basil Blackshaw
Brian Bourke
Fergus Bourke
Charles Brady
Cecily Brennan
Michael Bulfin
John Burke
Patrick Carey
James Coleman
Patrick Collins
Barrie Cooke
William Crozier
Charles Cullen
Michael Cullen
Edward Delaney
Felim Egan
Conor Fallon
Mary Farl Powers
(died April 1992)
Micheál Farrell
Mary Fitzgerald
Martin Gale
Tim Goulding
Patrick Graham
Patrick Hall
Charles Harper
Kieran Hickey
Patrick Hickey
Eithne Jordan
Michael Kane
Brian King
Gene Lambert
Sonja Landweer
Louis le Brocquy
Melanie le Brocquy
Anne Madden
Brian Maguire
Louis Marcus
James McKenna
Theo McNab
Seán McSweeney
Helen Moloney
Michael Mulcahy
Carolyn Mulholland
Eilís O’Connell
Gwen O’Dowd
Tony O’Malley
Patrick O’ Sullivan
Kathy Pendergast
Patrick Pye
Bob Quinn
Yann Renard Goulet
Patrick Scott
David Shaw-Smith
Noel Sheridan
Maria SimmondsGooding
Camille Souter
James Scanlon
Imogen Stuart
Rod Tuach
Charles Tyrell
Barbara Warren
Michael Warren
Alexandra Wejchert
Anne Yeats
Literature
John Banville
Leland Bardwell
Sebastian Barry
Dermot Bolger
Philip Casey
Anthony Cronin
Margaretta D’Arcy
Seamus Deane
Terence de Vere
White
Eilís Dillon
Paul Durcanl
Bernard Farrel
Pádraic Fiacc
Brian Friel
Patrick Galvin
Carlo Gebler
Ernest Gebler
Robert Greacen
Gerard Hanley
Michael Hartnett
Dermot Healey
Seamus Heaney
Aidan Higgins
Pearse Hutchinson
Jennifer Johnston
Neil Jordan
John B. Keane
Molly Keane
Benedict Kiely
Tom Kilroy
Mary Lavin
James Liddy
Michael Longley
Brian Lynch
Tom MacIntyre
Bernard MacLaverty
Bryan MacMahon
Derek Mahon
Hugh Maxton
John McGahern
Medbh McGuckian
Frank McGuinness
M.J. Molloy
John Montague
Brian Moore
Paul Muldoon
Val Mulkerns
Richard Murphy
Thomas Murphy
Nuala Ní
Dhomhnaill
Seán Ó Coistealbha
Conleth O’Connor
Ulick O’Connor
Julia Ó Faoláin
Críostóir O Floinn
Desmond O’Grady
Micheal O’Siadhail
James Plunkett
James Simmons
Sydney Bernard
Smith
Francis Stuart
Matthew Sweeney
Mervyn Wall
Macdara Woods
Music
Gerald Barry
Walter Beckett
Seóirse Bodley
Brian Boydell
John Buckley
Frank Corcoran
Raymond Deane
Jerome de Bromhead
Roger Doyle
Aloys Fleischmann
(died July 1992)
John Kinsella
Philip Martin
Jane O’Learey
Eric Sweeney
Gerrard Victory
James Wilson
Literature
International Writers' Conference
The second Dublin International Writers' Conference took place from 18th to 21st June 1991. The Board of the
conference was Seán Ó Mordha (Chairman), John Banville, Anthony Cronin, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Micheal
O'Siadhail. The Writers' Conference in 1991 was on the subject "Europe and its Legacy" chosen by the Board who
placed a special emphasis upon Eastern Europe for the 1991 event. Papers were read and discussed before the public
over three days in the National Concert Hall (NCH) in Dublin.
Readings were given in the evenings. The event culminated in a reading by eight leading English- language poets from
abroad on Midsummer's Nightin the Great Hall, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, and the poets were: John Ashbery
(U.S.A.); James Berry (Jamaica, lives Britain); Tony Harrison (Britain); Louis Simpson (U.S.A.); C.H. Sisson
(Britain); Anne Stevenson (Britain); R.S. Thomas (Wales); and Derek Walcott (St. Lucia, West Indies). The other
participants in the Writers' Conference 1991 were: Sebastian Barry (Ireland); Eavan Boland (Ireland); Dermot Bolger
(Ireland); Katarzyna Borun (Poland); Anthony Burgess (Britain); Bo Carpelan (Finland); Oleg Chlebnikov (U.S.S.R.);
Oleg Chukhontsev (U.S.S.R.); Daniela Crasnaru (Romania); Seamus Deane (Ireland); Paul Durcan (Ireland); Fernanda
Eberstadt (U.S.A.); Nuruddin Farah (Somalia, lives Uganda); Brian Friel (Ireland); Mavis Gallant (Canada, lives
France); Miroslav Holub (Czechoslovakia); Christopher Hope (South Africa, lives Britain); Hermione Lee (Britain);
Antonin Liehm (Czechoslovakia, lives France); Michael Longley (Ireland); Sean Mac Mathuna (Ireland); John
McGahern (Ireland); Medbh McGuckian (Ireland); Aidan Carl Mathews (Ireland); Balazs Mezei (Hungary); Richard
Murphy (Ireland); Bert Papenfuss-Gorek (Germany); Anna Saed-Shah (U.S.S.R., lives Germany); Piotr Sommer
(Poland); Colm Toibin (Ireland); Vladimir Voinovich (U.S.S.R., lives Germany); Marina Warner (Britain); and
Edmund White (U.S.A.). The conference was administered by the Arts Council's Literature officer, Laurence Cassidy,
with the assistance of specially engaged staff: Aileen Connor (Coordinator); Eveleen Coyle (Public Relations); Maurice
Earls (Director, Book Exhibition); and Raymond Kyne (Designer).
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES
During 1991, Dublin was the European City of Culture.
The European Literary and Translation Prizes entered the second year of its operation. The Prize (value ECU
20,000/IR £15,000) is awarded to the author who has made a significant contribution to contemporary European
literature with a single work published in the last three years. The European Translation Prize (also ECU 20,000) is
given to a translator for an outstanding translation of a significant work of contemporary European literature, published
in the last three years. The Arts Council provided the secretariat for the National Jury which chose the three Irish
nominations for each Prize. The Irish National Jury 1991 was (nominated by) Richard Kearney, Chairman (Arts
Council); Jennifer Johnston (Arts Council); Robert Greacen (Aosdána); Melanie le Brocquy (Aosdána); Diarmuid O
Cathasaigh (Bord na Gaeilge); Alan Titley (Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge); Terence Brown (Cultural Relations Committee);
Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill (Cultural Relations Committee); Michael Cronin (Irish Translators' Association); Celia de Freine
(Irish Writers' Union). The National Jury selected the following titles as the three Irish nominations for the European
Literary Prize:
"New and Selected Poems" by Seamus Heaney (Faber and Faber, 1990); "Selected Poems" by Derek Mahon
(Viking/Gallery, 1991); and "Amongst Women" by John McGahern (Faber and Faber, 1990). For the European
Translation Prize the following were selected:
"Federico Garcia Lorca" by Ian Gibson, translated by Ian Gibson (Faber and Faber, 1989); "After Many Years" by
Mario Luzi translated by Catherine O'Brien (Dedalus, 1990); "Cruth an Daonnai/De Vorm van een Mens" by Willem
M. Roggeman translated by Gabriel Rosenstock.
The Member State which hosts the European City of Culture provides the secretariat for the European Juries. The Arts
Council was invited by the Department of the Taoiseach to undertake this role. The European Literary Prize Jury under
the chairmanship of the critic Denis Donoghue, assessed the 33 nominations from the Member States. The European
Translation Prize Jury under the chairmanship of Miguel Martinez-Lage, the Spanish literary translator, considered the
28 nominations from the Member States. The Juries met three times in Dublin during the year. The Prizes were
presented by the Taoiseach, Charles J. Haughey, T.D. at a banquet in the Great Hall of the Royal Hospital,
Kilmainham, Dublin.
The winner of the European Literary Prize 1991 was Mario Luzi for "Frasi e incisi di un canto salutare" (Garzanti,
Milan, 1990), a volume of poetry in Italian. The poet was nominated by Italy. The winner of the European Translation
Prize 1991 was Frans van Woerden for "De Brug van Londen — Guignol's Band II" by Louis-Ferdinand Céline
(Meulenhoff, Amsterdam, 1989), a novel in Dutch, translated from the French. The translator was nominated by the
Netherlands.
European Literary Translation Scheme
In January 1991, the results of Round 2 of the Scheme were announced with the welcome news that five books
involving Irish authors or translators had been successful. The scheme assists publishers to commission translations of
literary texts from one EC language into another. A reading of texts by three Irish-language author/translators who have
been successful under the scheme was held in June with some funds from Dublin 1991 — European City of Culture.
The author/translators were Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Aodh Ó Canainn and Gabriel Rosenstock.
Platform Europe was a new EC scheme introduced in 1991. The International Writers' Conference received a
Platform Europe Award in the sum of ECU 25,000 (IR£19,100). Under this scheme, projects involving at least three
EC countries are eligible. Toward the end of the year the name of this programme was altered to Kaleidoscope.
LITERARY ORGANISATIONS
The Dublin Writers' Museum was opened by the Taoiseach in November with Pat Seager as Director. Its immediate
neighbour, the Irish Writers' Centre appointed its Director, Peter Sirr in August. This dual centre provides services for
living Irish writers as well as focussing on the past.
The Berlin literary organisation, literaturWERKstatt, mounted a tour of contemporary Irish writers to the city. Those
who travelled to participate in a ten-day festival, Tage Irischer Literatur, in November were: Dermot Bolger, Ciaran
Carson, Hugo Hamilton, Liam MacCoil, Paula Meehan, John McGuffin, John Montague, Joe O'Connor, Nuala Ní
Dhomhnaill, Gabriel Rosenstock and Francis Stuart.
PUBLISHING
Under the editor-in-chief, Seamus Deane, "The Field Day Anthology of Irish Literature" was published. This important
and hugely ambitious work spans the history of Irish literature from the sixth century until today. The Anthology is a
co-edition between Field Day, Faber and Faber and Norton.
In October, Peter Fallon's Gallery Press celebrated its 21st birthday with a reading by eight of its poets at the Tailors'
Hall, Dublin.
In November, Dedalus issued a fine edition of the "Collected Poems of Brian Coffey", and the poet himself was present
in the Dublin Writers' Museum on the occasion.
DUBLIN 1991 — LITERARY DIMENSION
1991 was the 75th anniversary of the 1916 Rising in which several poets were among those executed. Poetry Ireland
co-ordinated a tribute to the memory of those poets, Patrick Pearse, Thomas MacDonogh and Joseph Plunkett. John
Stephenson produced the 3-part event called The Flaming Door — An Doras Feasa on Easter Monday.
1991 was also the 50th anniversary of the death of James Joyce. Many tributes and events were organised in memory of
the city's greatest prose writer, and Prof. Gus Martin organised three memorable lectures from the American, Marilyn
French, the British author Anthony Burgess and from the Italian novelist and critic Umberto co. Dublin City Libraries
in association with the Arts Council funded two writers' residencies in 1991. Evelyn Conlon and Michael Scott worked
with many of the capital's community writing groups encouraging them to develop a more rewarding engagement with
writing through their inspiring and challenging workshops.
Finally, Poetry Ireland and Clashganna Mills Trust worked together to create the contemporary equivalent of the Book
of Kells, entitled the Great Book of Ireland. Contemporary poets, writers and visual artists combined to create this
ornate time capsule of Dublin 1991 in the tradition of the Irish mediaeval illuminated manuscript.
£
Aosdána
Cnuais to 32 writers
Awards
Pat Boran
Mairéad Byrne
Marina CanMarita Conlon-McKenna
Robert Paul Cremins
Mary Dorcey
Desmond Egan
Michael Harding
Francis Harvey
Rita Ann Higgins
Patrick McCabe
Seán Mac Mathúna
Mary Morrissy
Michael Mullen
Aidan Murphy
Mary O'Donnell
Críostóir Ó Floinn
Mary O'Malley
ARTFLIGHT: 62 travel awards (in association with Aer Lingus)
Grants
The Writer
Cumann Merriman
Dublin Public Libraries
No.47 & Nun's Island Arts Centre/Cuirt Filíochta Festival (see also Arts Centres)
Irish Writers' Union, Dublin
Kavanagh's Yearly, Co. Monaghan
National Writers' Workshop at UCG
Opera Theatre Company, Dublin (see also Opera and Music)
Eastern Washington University/Summer Writing Workshop, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin/Writer-in-residence: George O'Brien
The Works, Wexford (Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation grant)
Yeats' Society, Sligo
Literary OrganisationsCLÉ/Irish Book Publishers' Association,Dublin
CLÉ/Irish Book Publishers' Association (ACNI grant)
Irish Children's Book Trust, Dublin
Irish Translators' Association
Irish Writers' Centre, Dublin
Poetry Ireland, Dublin
Poetry Ireland (ACNI grant)
200,749
2,500
750
4,000
2,000
2,000
4,000
700
3,000
3,000
400
3,000
2,000
2,500
300
3,000
300
350
2,000
c/fwd 236,549
£
b/fwd 236,549
9,184
245,733
250
8,000
5,000
1,500
2,500
5,000
2,000
800
4,000
3,276
1,000
7,143
3,757
1,000
1,000
20,000
29,950
11,050
c/fwd 352,959
b/fwd
£
352,959
Publishers
[The charge to expenditure, which represents the amounts paid during 1991, may relate to more
than one financial year. The amount offered is given in parentheses]
Attic Press
[£30,000 (1991-92)]
15,000
Brandon Book Publishers
[£18,000 (1991)]
21,000
Clo Iar-Chonnachta
[£8,000 (1991-92)]
500
Coiscéim
[£13,000 (1991)]
16,000
Dedalus Press
[£22,000 (1991)]
22,000
Gallery Press
[£32,000 (1991)]
24,000
Lilliput Press
[£25,000 (1991-92)]
20,000
Mercier Press
[£1,250 (1991)]
1,250
O'Brien Press, Dublin
[£15,000 (1991-92)]
14,000
The Passion Machine [see also Drama]
[£2,000 (1991)]
2,000
Poolbeg Press
[£25,000 (1991-92)]
30,000
Raven Arts Press
[£27,000 (1991-92)]
29,500
Salmon Publishing
[£6,000 (1991)]
5,600
Saor Ollscoil na hEireann
[£1,500 (1991)]
1,500
Sotto Voce Press
[£1,000 (1991)]
1,000
Wolfhound Press, Dublin
[£25,000 (1991-92)]
20,000
Magazines
Books Ireland (from both Arts Councils)
Cyphers (from both Arts Councils)
Graph
Irish Review (from both Arts Councils)
Krino (from both Arts Councils)
Riverine
Stet
Less: Previous year's grants not required
Total/Aosdána, Awards and Grants
14,000
1,500
2,500
2,500
7,500
375
2,000
(1,322)
605,362
Arts Council Schemes, Promotions, etc.
European Literary and Translation Prizes
275,626
Second Dublin International Writers' Conference Expenditure
Income
89,552
7,494
Writers-in-the-Community Scheme
Sundry
Total/Direct Promotions
82,058
3,933
758
362,375
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
£
967,737
Grants Received
Arts Council of Northern Ireland:
Literary Organisations/2 grants
Magazines/4 grants
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (The Works, Wexford)
Re: European Literary and Translation Prizes:Department of the Taoiseach (National
Jury)
European Commission/Action Culturelle
Re: Second Dublin International Writers'Conference: Dublin Promotions Organisation
(1991 European City of Culture)
European Commission/Action Culturelle [ECU 25,000]
Total as Note 2 (page 51)
14,807
14,585
3,277
2,757
271,467
20,000
19,118
346,011
Visual Arts
1991 was a particularly fruitful year for the visual arts in Ireland. This year saw the official opening of the Irish
Museum of Modem Art and the re-opening of the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, Dublin, both institutions which will
undoubtedly play a major role, both nationally and internationally.
Exhibitions
The Cultural Capital was host to a number of Arts Council-funded exhibitions. These included Espace, an international
sculpture exhibition which was organised by the Sculptors' Society of Ireland and I.C.E. an open-submission show
organised by the Association of Artists in Ireland. Women Artists and the Environment was a site-specific project,
organised by the Women Artists' Action Group, in which twelve European artists took part. A one-day seminar was
held and a catalogue was published to coincide with this event. The European Large Format Print-making exhibition, a
most ambitious project undertaken by Black Church Print Studio, presented the work of prominent printmakers from
each of the EC countries. This was the first time an exhibition of such large-scale prints was seen in this country.
Perhaps the most popular Arts Council funded exhibition held in 1991 was "In a State", an installation exhibition
featuring the work of twenty-one invited Irish artists. Held in Kilmainham Gaol, this show was jointly organised by the
Gaol and the Project Arts Centre.
An increasing number of galleries and arts centres received exhibition funding in 1991. The listings overleaf indicate a
broader spread of activity outside of the main cities than in previous years; many of the exhibitions funded were shown
in four or five venues.
Studios
The Council continued its support to artists' studios in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway and Wexford. The Black
Church Print Studio, Dublin, whose premises burned down late in 1990, was without working space.
The National Sculpture Factory, Cork, providing workspace for all sculptural media, was officially opened by President
Robinson late in the Autumn.
There was a marked increase of applications for major bursaries and materials grants. A total of £75,000 was allocated
to individuals under these headings.
Organisations
The Association of Artists in Ireland (AAI) continued its representation of artists nationally, with an increase in its
membership and activities. The Association consolidated its work in relation to Exhibition Payment Right (EPR) and
artists' contracts.
Both the Sculptors' Society of Ireland (SSI) and the AAI co-ordinated Artsquad, a large community arts programme
throughout Dublin County, involving eighty artists and hundreds of individuals. The Sculptors' Society, under the new
administration of Aisling Prior, became more active in the organisation of sculpture symposia as well as its millennium
events — the above-mentioned Espace and the Sculpture Trail.
Publications
The minimal increase in this budget does not reflect the Council's aspirations for visual arts publications in general.
Portfolio, an annual survey of the contemporary arts in Ireland, was successfully launched by Gandon Editions. Gandon
also provided a series of small monographs in its Works titles. It is hoped that both of these publications will be
continued in 1992.
CIRCA, jointly funded by the Arts Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, expanded its editorial board, and
according to recent figures, its readership. More exhibitions outside of the main cities were reviewed and plans are
being made for wider distribution.
Purchase and Collection
The Joint Purchase scheme continues to be popular and thirteen public bodies, including schools and libraries, were
aided in the joint purchase of works of art.
The Council's purchasing budget was reduced by almost 50% in 1991. It is hoped that such a measure will not be
permanent. However, in granting substantial sums by way of bursaries, material grants and studio grants, the Council
continues its commitment to the individual artist.
£
Aosdána
Cnuais to 36 visual artists
286,958
Awards
Ireland-America Arts Exchange/International Studio (PS1),New York/Residency by
11,014
Marie Barrett
Westmeath VEC/Midland Arts; Residency by Geraldine O'Reilly
3,000
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (re George Campbell Award)
1,839
Brenda Andrews
100
Maree Bannon
200
Michael Beirne
300
Carmel Benson
300
Michael Boran
300
Oisin Breathnach
700
Gerard Byrne
150
Gerry Caffrey
250
Cathy Carman
1,500
Deirdre Carr
1,750
Elizabeth Caulfield
250
Felicity Clear
200
Carmel Cleary
200
Catherine Coakley
200
Eamon Colman
250
Paul Coleman
300
Oliver Comerford
250
Valerie Connor
250
Maud Cotter
4,000
Brian Cross
2,000
Dorothy Cross
2,000
Barbara Cullen
200
Shane Cullen
100
Pauline Cummins
3,350
Aideen Cusack
150
Cliodhna Cussen
300
Dorothy Ann Daly
100
Rosaleen Davey
175
c/fwd 322,636
Jill Dennis
Mary Donnelly
Micky Donnelly
Sarah Durcan
Carissa Farrell
Anya Fitschen
Mike Fitzpatrick
Graham Gingles
David Godbold
Helena Gorey
Richard German
Mairin Grant
Karl Grimes
Brian Hand
James Hanley
Marie Hanlon
Ken Hardy
Kathy Herbert
Lucy Hill
Gavin Hogg
£
b/fwd 322,636
250
300
300
250
200
100
500
300
200
300
3,000
300
4,000
1,000
200
250
300
300
250
200
Jaki Irvine
Finola Jones
Ian Patrick Joyce
Mark Joyce
Valerie Joyce
Fergus Kelly
Finbar Kelly
Kevin Kelly
Brian Kennedy
Brian John Kennedy
Catherine Kenny
David Lambert
Frederike Lenzing
Mary Lohan
James McCreary
Anna Mac Leod
Austin McQuinn
Alice Maher
T.J. Maher
Kate Malone
Fergus Martin (Dublin Corporation Scholarship)
Damien Meade
John Moore
Tim Morris
Paul Mosse
John P. Murray
Sinead Ní Chionaola
Chris O'Brien
Tina O'Connell
Colm O Culain
Yvonne O'Connell
Alanna O'Kelly
Geraldine Ormonde
Catherine Owens
John O'Regan
Oonagh O'Sullivan
E.J. Peters
John Renwick
Michelle Rogers
Stephen Rothchild
Tom Ryan
Scan Taylor
Brigid Teehan
Donal Teskey
D.B. Twohigk
Clea van der Grijn
Maria van Kampen
Anthony Walsh
Louise Walsh
Katherine West
ARTFLIGHT: 201 travel awards (in association with Aer Lingus)
Commissions
Athlone Regional Technical College
Kiltimagh I.R.D.
Total/Aosdána, Awards and Commissions
250
250
200
2,000
250
200
300
250
250
230
400
1,000
200
200
1,000
300
200
500
300
100
1,500
345,016
£
c/fwd 345,016
200
300
300
1,000
200
200
300
300
400
100
2,000
200
200
400
200
1,500
1,000
200
200
200
1,500
100
2,500
200
250
200
500
1,500
350
33,878
5,000
2,500
402,894
clfwd 402,894
£
blfwd 402,894
Grants to Organisations
All + Ten Sorts Studio, Limerick
2,500
Alternative Entertainments, Dublin (see also Traditional Arts and Community Arts)
1,000
Architectural Association of Ireland
3,000
Artspace Studios, Galway
5,000
Association of Artists in Ireland
20,500
Ballyfermot Arts Group
750
Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick (see also Arts Centres)
200
Black Church Print Studio, Dublin
17,500
Butler Gallery/Kilkenny Art Gallery Society (see also Education)
27,300
Cavan County Council
375
CIRCA magazine, Belfast
9,000
City Arts Centre, Dublin (see also Arts Centres)
3,000
Claremorris Arts Committee
13,000
Cork Artists' Collective
5,750
Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork
500
Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin
128,000
Droichead Arts Centre (see also Arts Centres)
265
Dun Laoghaire Art Studios
500
Edge to Edge Exhibition
750
Embroidery Designer Group
500
Exhibition of Visual Art, EV+A, Limerick
17,000
Andrew Folan/exhibition (Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation grant)
3,846
Martin Folan/exhibition planning grant
1,000
No 47 & Nun's Island Arts Centre, Galway (see also Arts Centres)
2,985
Gallery of Photography, Dublin
36,827
Galway Arts Festival (see also Festivals)
2,500
Gandon Editions, Dublin
13,000
Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford (see also Arts Centres)
1,000
Gate Theatre/Samuel Beckett Festival
500
Glor na nGael, Ballymun Sculpture Park
500
Graphic Studio, Dublin
33,800
Hang 10 Arts Studios, Dublin
300
Impressions exhibition
300
clfwd 755,842
b/fwd
International Association of Art Critics
Invisible City, architectural exhibition
Irish Arts Review
Irish-Welsh Exchange
Landscape Institute, Northern Ireland
Living Artists Trust
Anne Madden Retrospective Exhibition
Edward Maguire Retrospective Exhibition
Midland Arts Resource Centre, Co. Westmeath
Westmeath VEC/Midland Arts
Monaghan County Council
George Moore Society
National Sculpture Factory, Cork
New Art Studios, Dublin
Nicodemus Productions
Michael O'Dea exhibition
An tOireachtas exhibition
Places, Echoes, States of Mind exhibition
Project Arts Centre, Dublin
RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin
Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland
£
755,842
1,500
1,000
500
1,500
494
2,000
4,000
2,500
1,500
330
1,750
1,000
35,000
7,000
3,000
500
1,500
1,500
26,000
50,000
4,000
Sculptors' Society of Ireland, Dublin
Sculpture in Context
Sculpture on the Shannon
Sligo Art Gallery Society
Sligo Community Arts Group
Tallow Enterprise Group
Temple Bar Gallery & Studios, Dublin
Triskel Arts Centre, Cork (see also Arts Centres)
University of Limerick
Visual Arts Centre, Dublin
West Cork Arts Centre (see also Arts Centres)
The Western Artists
Wexford Arts Centre
Wexford Sculpture Workshops
Women Artists Action Group
Working Artists, Roscommon
Less: Previous years' grants not required
45,800
1,000
2,500
22,025
2,000
2,000
45,500
2,750
1,000
6,000
3,800
1,000
1,000
2,900
4,000
500
(400)
c/fwd 1,045,791
£
b/fwd 1,045,791
Joint Purchase Grants
Boyle Arts Festival/Roscommon County Council
Butler Gallery, Kilkenny
Contemporary Irish Arts Society
Crawford Municpal Art Gallery, Cork
Donabate National School
Dublin City University
Dublin Public Libraries
East Glendalough School
Kildare County Council
Monaghan County Museum
Plassey Management and Technical Centre, Limerick
Presentation/de la Salle School, Hospital, Co.Limerick
Saor Ollscoil na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath
Thomond College of Education, Limerick
Trinity College, Dublin
Total/Aosdána, Awards and Grants
Council Schemes and Promotions
Artists-in-Prisons
Council's Collection — maintenance
Exhibition Venue Guide
Consultancies
Sundry
Total/ Schemes and Promotions
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
1,662
950
1,300
1,000
100
500
500
337
300
300
300
200
600
750
500
1,055,090
4,800
14,303
3,765
15,215
321
38,404
1,093,494
Purchase of Works of Art
13 works of art: per Capital Account and list on page 21
8,950
Macaulay Fellowship (Trust Fund) (see Note 8, page 54)
Peter Power, printmaker
3,500
£
Grants Received
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (Exhibition Venue Guide)
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Andrew Folan exhibition)
Department of Justice (Artists-in-Prisons)
Dublin Corporation (Awards)
Spanish Cultural Institute (Awards)
Total as Note 2 (page 51)
3,244
3,850
3,200
1,500
400
12,194
Purchase of Works of Art in 1991
Artist
Deirdre Carr
Michael Coleman
Scan Fingleton
Karl Grimes
Anita Groener
Charles Harper
Finbar Kelly
Anna Mac Leod
Joe McGill
John Moore
Peter Morgan
Sharon O'Malley
Margaret Tuffy
Title
Let Us Kitchen Up Your Belly
With a Kiss
Untitled
Trees, Hedgerow and Sky
Il Duomo, Florence
Rain Pain King (Deliverance)
Balanced
The Island
Thinking
Male Torso
Souls in an Energised Space
Dum De Dum Help
Siren
In the Garden Grow Heroes and
Children
Medium
Oil on Paper
Vendor
Guinness Hop Store
Pastel on Paper
Oil on Paper
Photography
Oil on Canvas
Mixed Media on Paper
Mixed Media on Paper
Ink and Pastel on Paper
Mixed Media
Graphite on Paper
Colour Photograph
Oil on Paper
Mixed Media
Oliver Dowling Gallery
Taylor Galleries
Triskel Arts Centre
Taylor Galleries
Riverrun Gallery
Temple Bar Gallery
Temple Bar Gallery
The Artist
Temple Bar Gallery
Gallery of Photography
Nun's Island Arts Centre
The Artist
£
600
475
400
900
2,800
300
500
650
300
450
750
525
300
8,950
Film
While the Council's funding for film has increased dramatically over the past few years, the Council is aware of the
severe financial difficulties that continue to face film-makers trying to realise their projects in Ireland. The £100,000
allocated by the Council for Film and Video Awards is currently the only source of direct public finance available to
film- makers. The Council's film budget which is allocated in the areas of education, exhibition and a development role
through the Awards, is severely hampered by the lack of other direct State support for film.
Organisations
The Film Resource Centre in Galway and Film Base in Dublin continued to provide access to equipment and
information to low budget film-makers. Their respective short film awards, both in association with RTE, provide vital
opportunities to film-makers to obtain hands-on experience in their craft. In 1991, Film Base submitted a document on
the funding of Irish film productions. Discussions took place and are ongoing.
The building work on the new Irish Film Centre, Dublin commenced in 1991. The Centre will open in September 1992
and will house and centralise many film organisations.
The Irish Film Institute and Film Base began to gear themselves up for their move to the new premises. The Centre will
provide an unique opportunity for growth and for a much higher public profile for these organisations. The Archive at
the Institute made significant progress in 1991 in terms of fundraising and cataloguing and acquisitions. The Federation
of Irish Film Societies again increased its membership and organised the National Viewing Sessions in Ennis, Co.
Clare. It now has 25 clubs affiliated.
Established in 1990 by the Irish Film Institute and the Cinematique Belgique, Espace Video Europeen established itself
as one of the key projects in the MEDIA programme working from its Dublin offices in the Film Institute. The MEDIA
programme has become a very important mechanism of support for Irish film-making and many Irish projects
benefitted from its schemes in 1991.
Festivals
The Dublin Film Festival, held in February, building on the successes of previous years has now established itself as
one of the most important arts events in Dublin. Consolidating its reputation, the Cork Film Festival in October
screened a variety of features, shorts and documentaries from around the world, with a particular focus on Amber Films
co-operative from Tyne Side England. The first Irish Lesbian and Gay Film Festival was held and "Three Joes", an
Irish short, won the European Short Film Competition.
The Galway Film Fleadh held in July has become an important forum for exchanging ideas and discussing the
difficulties of film production in Ireland as well as being a relatively new show-case of quality world cinema.
The 2nd Junior Dublin Film Festival provided an excellent opportunity for young people to enjoy and discuss the
diversity of cinema, while fostering a greater awareness of the medium.
Awards
The Film and Video Awards attracted a huge range of projects and almost two hundred applications over the two
submission dates. The Awards announced in February went to: Kevin Liddy for his short film "Horse" – £23,000;
Stephen Burke for "After 68" – £10,000; Hugh Linehan for "Red and Green" – £5,000; Barra de Bhaldraithe and
Aisling Prior for "Cloneely's Choice" – £4,000; Clare Langan for "Nadja" – £3,000; David Donohue for "Evenings" –
£4,000; and Pauline Cummins in collaboration with the sculptor Louise Walsh – £1,000. In July, awards were
announced to: Marie Therese Duggan and Ronan Sheehan for a feature film entitled "The Rab" – £17,000; David T.
Quin for his animated film "The Fool" – £5,000; Cathal Black for his adaptation of the John McGahern story "Korea" –
£10,000; Ed Guiney and Paddy Breathnach for "Ailsa" – £5,000; Mago Dunne for "Old Men" – £2,000; and David
Bickley for an experimental short – £1,000.
The Film community also benefitted greatly from the Arts Council – Aer Lingus Travel Awards scheme.
£
Film and Video Project Awards
David Bickley
Cathal Black (+ £7,000 in 1992)
Siobhan Bourke (1990 balance)
Stephen Burke (+ £5,000 in 1992)
Pauline Cummins
David Donoghue
Marie Theresa Duggan
Hilary Dully (1990 Balance)
Mago Dunne
Ed Guiney
Clare Langan
Kevin Liddy
Hugh Linehan and John McDonnell
Aisling Prior
David T. Quin
Minor Awards
Peter Butler
Joe Comerford
Constance Harris
Edel O'Brien
ARTFLIGHT: 80 travel awards (in association with Aer Lingus)
Grants
Cork Film Festival
Dublin Film Festival
EVE/Espace Video Europeen, Dublin
Federation of Irish Film Societies, Dublin
Film Base, Dublin
Film Resource Centre, Galway
Dublin Junior Film Festival
Galway Film Fleadh
Irish Film Institute
Directly Promoted Activities
Art-on-Film project
Sundry
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
1,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
1,000
4,000
12,000
5,000
2,000
5,000
3,000
23,000
5,000
4,000
2,500
750
500
750
750
10,183
92,433
25,800
20,500
10,000
39,100
46,000
12,000
2,500
5,000
74,790
328,123
7,420
595
336,138
£
Grant Received
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (Art On Film)
43,567
Drama
1991 was a year of great vitality, energy and excitement and significant development in Drama. Although the level of
funding available for Drama in the Council's budgets was much the same as in 1990, the sector as a whole benefitted
from increased levels of sponsorship particularly in respect of the 1991 Dublin City of Culture celebrations. There was
also increased levels of support for the arts from local authorities throughout the country, most significantly the Cork
Corporation/Arts Council Development Plan for the Arts in Cork.
Touring
It is particularly encouraging to record that the Council's Theatre Touring scheme assisted not only the now well
established professional theatre touring companies in bringing their productions to audiences throughout Ireland, but
also enabled a number of venue managers in regional centres to enhance their own programmes by means of increased
funding for venue rental and the programming fund aspect of the scheme.
Furthermore, a very modest allocation of the budget provided County Arts Officers with guarantees in respect of visits
to their regions by professional touring companies which they promote. This has proved to be very successful and the
Council hopes to develop this aspect of the scheme in future years.
Awards to Individuals
The Council is very encouraged by the response to its Trainee Play Director bursaries scheme and to the Theatre
Designers Award scheme which was reintroduced during 1991. The Council hopes to be able to maintain and develop
these schemes in future years as it attaches enormous importance to encouraging young people interested in making
careers in these aspects of the theatre. Funding was also provided to the Open House Project for young play directors
and grants were provided under the Playwrights Commissioning Scheme to the two theatre-in-education companies,
TEAM and Graffiti.
A grant was also provided to the organisers of Playcircle who do very valuable work in workshopping and play
readings for new plays. The Council again provided funding for the Stewart Parker Trust to assist with the
encouragement of emerging new playwrights.
1991 Dublin City of Culture
Drama made a very important contribution to the 1991 Dublin City of Culture celebrations. The Mayday to Bloomsday
Festival organised by the Dublin Theatre Festival proved to be a most imaginative and exciting initiative. The Theatre
Festival itself proved to be one of the most ambitious to date and was one of the highlights of the City of Culture year.
It is regrettable that the success of the Festival was somewhat marred by the difficulties associated with the Archaos
event, but the Council hopes that the Festival management will put that disappointment behind them and will ensure
that the Festival plays an important role in Irish theatre for the future.
Production Companies
1991 was a year of great successes and achievements on the part of production companies. Garry Hynes commenced
her term as Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre and she presented a programme of work which was both challenging
and controversial. During the year, there were also memorable successes for the Abbey in overseas productions in
London and on Broadway with "Hedda Gabler" and "Dancing at Lughnasa" deservedly earning the plaudits of
audiences and reviewers alike. During 1991, the Gate Theatre once again presented a richly varied programme of work
characterised by the high production values which have become the hallmark f this theatre under Michael Colgan's
directorship. Undoubtedly, the highlight of the year's work was the Beckett Festival during which the Gate presented all
of Beckett's stage plays as its contribution to the 1991 Dublin Theatre Festival.
The Arts Council would like to record its appreciation of the contributions which were made by the many individuals
and by the festival partners who joined with the Gate management to celebrate the life and work of a truly great writer.
1991 was a year which also marked a growing confidence on the part of a number of professional production
companies based in centres in the regions. Red Kettle Theatre Company in Waterford, Island Theatre Company in
Limerick, Graffiti Theatre Company in Cork, Yew Theatre Company in Ballina and Na Fánaithe in Galway, each in
their own way demonstrated their total commitment to providing access to professional theatre for audiences not only
in their own centres but also on touring circuits. The Council recognises that it will require significant additional
funding in future years to maintain appropriately the existing professional companies in regional centres as well as to
encourage the development of others.
During the Dublin Theatre Festival a seminar was held at the Project Arts Centre on the Council's Theatre Touring
Scheme. A very lively and wide-ranging discussion of all aspects of the scheme took place under the Chairmanship of
Joe Dowling. The observations and recommendations which emerged from the seminar are being considered by the
Council as part of a review of the operation of the scheme so as to ensure that the funding available is applied in as
effective and efficient manner possible.
The Council is also actively considering with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland ways and means in which more
extensive cross border exchanges,, touring and co-productions can be encouraged and assisted. The Council is
conscious of the enormous potential for growth and development in drama in Ireland and it is hoped the necessary
resources will be available in future years to ensure that that potential is fully achieved.
£
Awards
Brian Brady
Marina Carr
John Crowley
Jim Culleton
Liz Cullinane
Peter McMahon
Ian McNicholl
900
1,000
2,000
1,250
2,000
1,250
3,500
ARTFLIGHT: 55 travel awards (in association with Aer Lingus)
8,048
Theatre Project Awards
Co-Motion Theatre Company, Dublin
Sarah-Jane Scaife
Theatre Unlimited/Studio Theatre
Women Playwrights
5,000
2,500
2,500
2,000
Playwrights' Commission Scheme:
Graffiti Theatre Company, Cork
Second Age, Dublin
TEAM Theatre Company, Dublin
1,750
750
1,750
Grants
Abbey Theatre, Dublin
1,932,000
Co-Motion Theatre Company, Dublin
20,000
Cork Opera House (see also Theatre Touring)
24,000
Druid Theatre Company, Galway
229,000
Dublin Theatre Festival
98,000
Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork
54,000
Focus Theatre, Dublin
35,500
Gate Theatre, Dublin
572,000
Andy Hinds/Open House Project [includes Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation grant,
£7,483]
12,483
Iomha Ildanach Theatre Company
3,000
Island Theatre Company, Limerick
20,500
Meridian Theatre Company, Cork
10,000
The Passion Machine, Dublin
44,500
Pigsback Theatre Company, Dublin
8,500
Red Kettle Theatre Company, Waterford
41,000
Rough Magic Theatre Company, Dublin
97,000
Second Age, Dublin
10,000
Sligo Community Arts Group
1,000
clfwd 3,248,681
Yew Theatre Company, Ballina
Gate Theatre Trust
Playcircle, Dublin
Playwrights and Actors Company, Dublin
Stewart Parker Trust, Belfast
Less: Previous year's grants not required
£
b/fwd 3,248,681
10,000
1,000
500
800
3,072
(1,493)
Theatre Touring/Grants to production companies:
Arthur Cleary Productions [4 week tour: "The Lament for Arthur Cleary" by Dermot
Bolger]
Druid Theatre Company, Galway [4 week tour of "Shadow and Substance" by Paul
Vincent Carroll]
Na Fanaithe, Gaillimh [Tour of "Baboga", three one-act plays]
The Passion Machine, Dublin [4 week tour of "Studs" by Paul Mercier & John Sutton]
Playwrights and Actors Company, Dublin [6 week season of "Bedroom Farce" by
Alan Ayckbourn]
Red Kettle Theatre Company, Waterford [4 week tour of "Translations" by Brian
Friel]
Theatre Touring/Grants to venues, etc
Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick (see also Arts Centres)
City Arts Centre, Dublin (see also Arts Centres)
Cork Opera House (see also General Drama grants)
Cornmill Theatre, Carrigallen
Droichead Arts Centre (see also Arts Centres)
Everyman Palace, Cork
Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford (see also Arts Centres)
Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo (see also Arts Centres)
32,000
50,000
6,000
51,000
47,000
50,000
15,000
1,500
70,000
500
1,492
15,000
6,000
10,000
c/fwd 3,618,052
£
blfwd 3,618,052
Linenhall Arts Centre (see also Arts Centres)
500
Siamsa Tire, Tralee (see also Traditional Arts)
5,000
Wexford Theatre Royal
1,280
Cavan County Council [Performances by Charabanc Theatre Company]
800
Donegal County Council [Performances by Charabanc, Fablevision and Tinderbox]
2,322
Dundalk UDC [Performances by Charabanc, Dry Bread, Fablevision and Michael
1,000
Lunts]
Monaghan County Council
300
Monaghan VEC [Performances by Charabanc Theatre Company]
725
Total Awards, Commissions and Grants
3,629,979
Sundry
1,535
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
3,631,514
Grant Received
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
7,483
Dance
The Council's ability to address properly the area of dance in 1991 was most adversely affected by the absence of a
specialist Dance Officer.
The Council continued to provide significant revenue funding to a number of dance organisations. The Dance Council
of Ireland, which is a representative body and an information/advice resource, continued its Choreography Course,
organised the Irish Youth Dance Festival and the New Music New Dance Festival. It administered the Irish Youth
Dance Company which mounted a full length Ballet, choreographed by Terry John Bates, in the Mansion House in
August.
Dance Theatre of Ireland's production of Touching the Moon' in November, at the Tivoli Theatre in Dublin,
choreographed by Janet Smith, was a particular highlight of the year.
Icontact produced a piece, based on the novel Spy in the House of Love, for the New Music New Dance Festival and
will perform Tower of Babel, with music by Roger Doyle and choreographed by Snaggy CY Sullivan, in the Irish
Museum of Modern Art in February of 1992.
Daghdha Dance Company continued its vital role in providing dance-in-education services throughout the country.
Barefoot Dance Company continued its dance in the community and dance-in-education in the South-East of the
country. The Council held its annual Dance Bursary adjudications in April. The awards were announced in May, and
were able to help fund eight young dancers in furthering their dance training abroad. The Council sees the appointment
of a Dance Officer as a matter of vital importance.
£
Awards
Fred Berstock
Victoria Brady
Victoria Brady (Dublin Corporation Scholarship)
Darren Dadabhy
Nadine Dowd
Judy Hayes
Stephen Jorgensen
Mary Lally
Kevin Woods
Summer Course at Kirov School of Ballet, St Petersburg
Aoife McGrath
Karen O'Neill
Dara Pierce
Sonja Shiel
ARTFLIGHT: 35 travel awards in association with Aer Lingus)
Grants
Barefoot Dance Company, Wexford
Co-Motion Theatre Company, Dublin
Daghdha Dance Company, University of Limerick
Dance Council of Ireland, Dublin
Dance Theatre of Ireland, Dublin
Dundalk U.D.C.
Icontact Dance Theatre, Dublin
Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Dublin
Mandance
Terri Colman-Black
Royal Academy of Dancing (Irish Region)
Rubato Ballet Company, Dublin
Triskel Arts Centre, Cork
University of Limerick (Dancer-in-Residence)
Sundry
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
Grant Received
Dublin Corporation (Awards)
3,000
2,500
1,500
2,493
4,000
2,500
2,000
750
3,000
500
500
500
500
2,971
15,000
5,000
57,000
63,600
53,500
5,000
52,000
3,000
3,000
1,500
1,000
3,500
3,000
7,000
1,214
301,028
1,500
Traditional Arts
The Arts Council's budget for traditional music in 1991 was £270,000 a 27% increase on the previous year. The
Council allocated these funds in accordance with policies established and refined during the preceding five years. The
greater part of the Council's budget for traditional music continues to be spent on a number of key organisations which
are in a position to provide services, resources, information and advice on a national basis to practitioners and those
generally interested in Irish traditional music.
1991 was an important year for the Council's largest client in traditional music, Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann,
established by the Arts Council in 1987 as a unique national resource centre for traditional music. During the year this
organisation moved to a prestigious new base at 63 Merrion Square, a fine Georgian house which formerly housed the
Irish Architectural Archive. The organisation now occupies the top two floors of this building and during 1991 was at
last able to develop along the lines envisaged when first established, providing full access to its extensive holdings in
all media and also to initiate a number of fieldwork programmes based outside of Dublin. One of the highlights of the
year in traditional music was the official launch of Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann by President Mary Robinson at a
reception in the Guinness Hop Store on 19th November.
The Council maintained its support for a number of organisations based in 15 Henrietta Street, including Na Píobairí
Uilleann, and Cumann Cheol Tire Éireann. The building remains in almost constant use and is a valuable focus of
activity for traditional music in Dublin and the organisations housed here implemented a wide range of varied
programmes throughout the country in 1991. Na Píobairí Uilleann continued to expand its Pipes-on-Loan Scheme and
assisted in the organisation of many piping seminars and Tionóil throughout the country. Na Píobairí Uilleann also
organised an extremely successful concert in the National Concert Hall which considerably raised the organisation's
profile.
The Council substantially increased its support for Cumann Cheol Tíre Éireann and an important new publication is
expected from this organisation in early 1992. The Council maintained its commitment to ensure that touring
performances of solo traditional musicians of the highest calibre can be heard throughout the country. The Council also
maintained its support to the Music Network which has established a reputation for quality and excellence in a wide
range of venues. Among the musicians who took part in the tours during 1991 were Sharon Shannon, Paddy Glackin,
Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin, P.J. Crotty and Robbie Hannon.
Summer Schools continued to be an important area of educational activity and the Council increased its support to a
number of these events. One particularly encouraging development was the emergence of Scoil Acla on Achill Island
as an increasingly important centre for activity in traditional music not only during the summer months, but also
throughout the year as a result of the energetic activities of the dynamic committee led by John McNamara.
The largest of the summer schools funded by the Council is Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, which pursued its policy of
seeking to obtain ideal pupil teacher ratios and this involved some additional expenditure on the part of the Council.
The Dublin Festival of Traditional Music was a great success and an interesting development was the inclusion of an
ensemble from Bulgaria. The festival this year also included workshops which were very well attended and all events
played to capacity houses. A new festival "Music Under the Mountains" took place in Hollywood, Co. Wicklow, in
September and the workshops by Desie Wilkinson, Martin O'Connor and Aidan Prunty were warmly received.
Alternative Entertainments pursued its traditional music programme, the highlight of which was the fifteen-day long
seminar on traditional music, featuring experts and performers on all aspects of vocal and instrumental traditional
music. Among those who directed masterclasses during the seminar were Paddy Glackin, Steve Wickham, Stephen
Cooney and Fintan Vallely.
The Arts Council's traditional music masterclass scheme continues to be used extensively and masterclasses were held
in venues throughout the country directed by performers of the highest calibre. The Council received a report on the
final stages of pre-publication work on the massive Thematic Index to the Sources of Irish Traditional Music which is
the culmination of 40 years work by Dr Aloys Fleischmann and his dedicated team of research assistants. It is expected
that this important work will be published in 1992. The Council maintained its commitment to this project, which also
received grant-aid from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
The Council remained heartened by the level of support and assistance available from a number of sources within
Ireland for the promotion of traditional music and these included the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the British
Council, Clare County Council, Donegal County Council, Dublin Corporation and Sligo VEC.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements in traditional music over the years, the Council made a special award to
fiddle player, Sean McGuire.
Awards
Seán Maguire, Cavan and Belfast
Mel Mercier, Cork
Grants
Alternative Entertainments, Tallaght (see also Community Arts)
Cáirde na Cruite, Baile Átha Cliath
Cáirdeas na bhFidléirí, Tír Chonaill
Cavan County Council
CCE/Ballyheigue Branch, Co. Kerry
CCE/Craobh Joe O'Dowd, Sligo
CCE/Lixnaw Branch, Co. Kerry
Ceirníní Cladaigh, Baile Átha Cliath
Coiste Forbartha Ceanntair Mhín an Aoire, Tír Chonaill
Cumman Cheol Tíre Éireann, Baile Átha Cliath
Dublin Folk Dance Group
Dublin Traditional Music Festival
Dublin Traditional Music Festival (ACNI grant)
Dundalk Urban District Council
Éigse na Laoi, Corcaigh
Ennistymon Festival of Traditional Singing, Clare
Ennistymon Festival of Traditional Singing (ACNI grant)
Féile an Eanaigh, Inbhear, Tír Chonaill
Féile Caomhán, Inis Oírr
Féile Chomórtha Joe Éiniú, Conamara
Dr Aloys Fleischmann/research grant (from both Arts Councils)
Inishowen Traditional Singers Circle
Inishowen Traditional Singers Circle (ACNI grant)
Irish Pipe Band Association
Irish Traditional Music Archive, Dublin
Irish Traditional Music Archive (ACNI grant)
Killarney Folk Club
Leixlip Salmon Festival
The Music Network, Dublin (see also Music)
Music Under the Mountains, Co. Wicklow
Na Píobairí Uilleann, Baile Átha Cliath
Na Píobairí Uilleann/Cumann Cheol Tíre Éireann
Newpark Music Centre, Dublin
Nordic-Celtic Legend Symposium, Galway
North West Folk Music and Poetry Society, Deny
O'Carolan Festival, Co. Meath
O'Carolan Harp Festival, Co. Meath
Rosemary O'Connor/masterclass
Oideas Gael, Tír Chonaill
Oidhreacht Chorea Dhuibhne, Ciarraí
Scoil Acla, Oileán Acla
Scoil Cecil Inis Meáin
Scoil Samhraidh Liatroma
Scoil Samhraidh Liatroma (ACNI grant)
Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Sráid na Cathrach
Slieve Gullion Festival of Traditional Singing, Co. Down
Siamsa Tíre, Trá Lí
South Sligo Summer School
Less: Previous year's grant not required
Sundry
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
Grant Received
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
£
3,000
1,000
7,000
500
3,500
500
250
175
300
2,500
200
4,100
100
3,500
660
200
500
1,000
441
150
441
300
1,500
800
330
5,725
81,500
12,115
400
200
16,500
176
c/fwd 149,563
b/fwd 149,563
17,200
15,500
300
1,000
500
200
200
200
600
150
2,000
600
1,700
220
12,000
1,000
63,000
3,000
(851)
268,082
2,000
270,082
15,930
Popular Music
The appointment of a Popular Music Officer in February 1988 arose from a partnership of the Arts Council and the
Popular Music Industry Association (PMIA), which met the costs associated with this appointment. Discussions took
place during 1991 on how best to progress the relationship between the Arts Council and the popular music industry.
As a result of these discussions, and following visits by the Officer to facilities in Canada and Denmark, plans were
made to establish the Arts Council MusicBase, in Temple Bar. MusicBase will continue and expand the work of the
Popular Music Officer and is expected to be open to the public in 1992.
During 1991, Córas Tráchtála consulted with the Popular Music Officer in order to organise Irish participation in the
New Music Seminar, New York. This led to an increased involvement in the seminar with 15 Irish companies on two
stands at the trade fair; the distribution of a CD with 18 emerging Irish bands; six speakers at panel discussions and
seven Irish bands playing show-case concerts. With substantial aid from the Arts Council — Aer Lingus Travel Award
Scheme, seventy delegates attended the seminar.
The Irish International Music Seminar, initiated by the Officer through the PMIA and Hotpress in 1989 moved location
to the Riverside Theatre and was attended by over 200 young people. The Officer also contributed to regional seminars
and gave talks in several schools.
The two full-time courses in Ballyfermot Senior College — on rock performance and music management — were
assisted throughout the year. Placements were organised for the music management students, and many of the students
from both courses have gained related employment. Advice and information was provided via telephone, fax, letters
and interviews to many emerging bands and musicians. The Officer was also consulted on a wide variety of projects
including the Stokes Kennedy Crowley report on the music business; Dublin Tourism's Rock and Stroll Trail and the
proposed National Music Centre in Temple Bar.
The Officer met with many of his European counterparts during 1991, including those from Denmark, BruzellesWallonie, France and Holland.
He visited facilities in Canada and New York while attending the New Music Seminar in July. A meeting was held in
Brussels in November which, it is hoped, has laid the foundations for a European federation of organisations in the
popular music area, which would share information, enable young bands to tour outside their home territories and have
a common voice on legislative matters.
The Popular Music Officer will continue to advise the Director of the Arts Council on popular music matters.
ARTFLIGHT: 122 Travel Awards (in association with Aer Lingus)
Grants
£
25,143
1,000
Administration
42,779
Total (included in Music and Sundry Sections)
68,922
Opera
In 1991 the Council continued its funding of DGOS Opera Ireland, the Wexford Festival Opera and Opera Theatre
Company.
During the year the Opera Theatre Company significantly expanded its activities. The company's main touring
production of 1991 was Falstaff in which the principal roles were taken by five young Irish singers. The tour of Hansel
and Gretel was extended to include four venues new to OTC. The company also carried out its first commissioning
project with financial support from a variety of sources including the Council. The OTC was the winner of a major
award in the Arts and Culture category of the AIB Better Ireland Awards which enabled the company to tour four new
operas to a number of centres outside Dublin.
1991 was another good year for Wexford Festival Opera. The Festival attracted audiences of 92% to the operas and an
average attendance of 82% at non- opera events. There were exceptionally good reviews in the international and
national press. This year marked the final part of Wexford's four-year development plan which has doubled the capacity
of the Theatre Royal since 1987. There was an overall increase of 14% in attendances in 1991 compared to the previous
year. A very serious deficit which threatened the company at the end of 1990 was brought under control by a very
successful fundraising campaign. The year also saw structural changes in the Wexford Festival Opera including
reducing the size of the board and the introduction of new financial controls. In October a new Chairman was elected,
Mr John O'Connor, who will replace the outgoing Chairman, Ms. Barbara Wallace, in 1992.
This year the Dublin Grand Opera Society changed its name to DGOS Opera Ireland. It presented four new productions
in 1991. The productions attracted an 87% seat occupancy and the company secured its first major performance
sponsor for the Spring, with Stokes Kennedy Crowley sponsoring the second performance of "Il Barbiere di Siviglia".
The Winter season was the first to be directed by the new Artistic Director, Elaine Padmore. The season's productions
attracted high attendances with a seat occupancy of 96%. Toyota Ireland sponsored the full production of "Lucia di
Lamermoor". 1991 was the 50th anniversary of the Dublin Grand Opera Society and a special concert, sponsored by
Arthur Andersen Accountants, was held in the National Concert Hall in October. In December, DGOS Opera Ireland,
in association with RTE, FM3 and International Management Group presented Placido Domingo and Regina Nathan in
concert at the Point Theatre, Dublin.
£
ARTFLIGHT: 9 travel awards
(in association with Aer Lingus)
652
Grants
Dublin Grand Opera Society
Opera Theatre Company, Dublin
(see also Literature and Music)
259,763
158,500
Wexford Festival Opera
143,000
Directly Promoted Activities
Opera Workshop
650
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
562,565
Music
The 1991 music budget was £465,000 a 21% increase on the previous year. The Council managed to provide a small
increase in its provision for bursaries, scholarships and awards to young instrumentalists and singers. In the absence of
any assistance from the Department of Education, the Arts Council remains the primary state agency to which young
people, who hope to pursue a professional career in music, can apply for assistance.
During 1991 the Arts Council reviewed its overall policy for the promotion of contemporary music and noted that there
is a need for much encouragement, advice and financial support in order to advance contemporary Irish music and the
work of Irish composers. The Council recognises that there is a need for adequate support for the composition of new
work, for its performance and for its wider dissemination outside of Ireland through touring and recordings. The
Council also undertook an extensive review of the Composers Commission Scheme and, as a result of this, the scheme
was revised. Fees were substantially increased to composers and these come into effect in 1992.
The Council was pleased to be able to substantially increase its grant to the ACCENTS Festival of Contemporary
Music which was met with public approval in Dublin in September. The Council also made a special grant to Micheal
Seaver to enable him prepare and give a performance of Stockhausen's "Harlequin" at the ACCENTS festival.
The Council funded a number of events originated by Project Arts Centre which involved the collaboration of Irish
composers with traditional musicians and another collaborative project assisted by the Council was undertaken by
TEAM Theatre in Education Company.
The Council's main expenditure in contemporary music continued to be the Contemporary Music Centre. It is hoped
that, in the coming year, the CMC will be in a better position to fulfil the agenda it has set for itself and this will go a
long way towards improving much needed services for modern Irish.music.
During the year the magazine. Music Ireland, ceased publication and the Council acknowledged the valuable
information service provided by this publication. The Council continued to fund a number of performance ensembles
specialising in 20th century music, such as Concorde and Nua Nós.
The Council increased its funding to Clifden Arts Society, a dynamic organisation in the west of Ireland which
organises a remarkable series of concerts throughout the year.
The Council commissioned two major works by the composers John Buckley and Micheal Ó Súilleabháinin 1991.
The Ennis Composition Summer School was a great success this year and the Council increased its funding to enable
the programme directors to proceed with their ambitious plans for the school.
£
Aosdána
Cnuais to 6 composers
39,750
Awards
Gerald Barry
Melanie Briggs
Brona Cahill
Maria Cleary
Nicola Cleary
Neil Cooney
Seamus Conroy
Gareth Costello
Adrian Daly
Declan Daly
Jayne Donnelly
Ríona Ó Duinnín
Ben Dwyer
Gerard Grennell
Deirdre Gribben
Aedin Halpin
Ian Hogan
Michael Joyce
Oonagh Keogh
Emmanuel Lawlor
Lynda Lee
Siobhán Lynch
Hilary Macken
Paul McNamara
Charles Marshall
200
500
1,397
500
1,000
2,000
1,750
500
2,000
2,500
500
200
1,000
1,000
2,000
1,500
1,300
750
1,000
1,500
1,000
1,500
1,250
500
700
Juliet Montaque
Patricia Moynihan
Miamh Murray
Niamh Ní Chanainn
Ann O'Byrne
Sinead O'Carroll
Dara O'Connell
Aisling O'Dea
Cliodhna O'Driscoll
Cormac Ó hAodáin
Mark O'Keefe
Shane O'Neill
Elizabeth O'Sullivan
John Reidy
Kenneth Rice
Caitriona Ryan
Cliodhna Ryan
Michael Seaver
Louise Thomas (Dublin Corporation Scholarship)
Anita Vedres
Louise Walsh
Bernadette Woods
ARTFLIGHT: 108 Travel Awards (Music)
122 Travel Awards (Popular Music)
(in association with Aer Lingus)
900
1,000
1,000
500
750
300
750
700
300
1,250
900
300
500
140
1,750
c/fwd 78,837
£
blfwd 78,837
1,750
200
2,500
1,500
750
750
500
14,329
25,143
New Music Commission Scheme
Composer
Gerald Barry
Rhona Clarke
Raymond Deane
Michael McGlynn
Michael Seaver
Opera Theatre Company
(see also Opera
and Literature)
Commissioned By
John Finucane
Avondale Singers
Nua Nós
Judith Harris
ACCENTS Festival
for operas by
John Buckley
Raymond Deane
Marion Ingoldsby
Collaborative Music Projects
Project Arts Centre, Dublin
TEAM Theatre Company, Dublin
Grants to Organisations
Association of Irish Composers/ACCENTS Festival
Ballyfermot Senior College
City Arts Centre, Dublin
Clifden Arts Society
Concorde, Galway
Contemporary Music Centre, Dublin
Cork Orchestral Society
Cumann Náisiúnta na gCór, Corcaigh
Early Music Organisation of Ireland
540
450
1,200
300
600
7,500
136,849
2,000
1,300
7,000
500
500
1,000
3,000
56,500
c/fwd 208,649
£
b/fwd 208,649
5,000
86,300
1,500
Ennis Composition Summer School/Clare County Council
Irish Chamber Orchestra, Dublin
Irish Youth Wind Ensemble, Dublin
Limerick Music Association
Music for Galway
Music Ireland magazine
The Music Network (see also Traditional Arts)
Newpark Music Centre, Dublin:
International Association of Jazz Schools
Dublin 1991 Jazz Festival
National Jazz Society
Nua Nós, Dublin (instrumental ensemble)
Symphony Club of Waterford
Waterford Music Club
Less: Previous year's grants not required
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
Marten Toonder Award (Trust Fund) (see Note 8, page 54)
John Buckley, composer
Grant Received
Dublin Corporation (Awards)
3,000
61,000
2,000
8,000
12,000
7,000
55,700
1,000
3,000
1,500
9,000
1,000
3,000
(3,500)
465,149
3,500
1,500
Jazz
Arts Council expenditure on jazz in 1991 was £5,500. Among the events assisted by the Council was the second annual
meeting of the International Association of Jazz Schools which was hosted by Newpark Music Centre. This is an
extremely important event which brought together young jazz students and teachers from America, Holland, Austria,
England, Finland, Spain, Sweden and Ireland.
Newpark Music Centre also received funding for an innovative series of workshops and educational activities in jazz.
The National Jazz Society received funding for an event that featured Louis Stewart.
During the year a new organisation emerged which seems certain to improve greatly the services and facilities for jazz
and other musical forms in Ireland. This is the Improvised Music Company which organised a series of concerts in the
Focus Theatre, Dublin and also has plans for an ambitious tour of Ireland.
One of the more innovative events organised by Newpark Music Centre was a workshop/seminar directed by a number
of Indian classical/traditional musicians and this workshop was directed mainly at vocalists. The workshop aimed to
draw on many of the techniques essential to the Indian vocal art and show how these can be applied successfully and
with spectacular results to jazz and, indeed, classical singing.
While the Council's expenditure on jazz remains low, the Council is aware of the needs of jazz and improvised music in
general.
Arts Centres
The Council's commitment to arts centres was reflected in the decision of the Council in November of this year and in
advance of knowing its level of Government grant-aid to decide upon the 1992 grants for arts centres. The Council was
especially keen that such action on its part would help contribute to better financial planning and programming by the
centres in 1992. The Council increased the overall budget for arts centres for 1992 by over £50,000. In addition, as is
also noted in the regions and drama section of this report, the Council provides additional funds from those budgets for
arts centres.
In order to provide opportunities to raise finance from their own resources the Council continued its representations to
the Department of Justice concerning the introduction of bar licences for arts centres. Such representations are ongoing.
Many arts centres augment their income and add to the through-flow of patrons by the provision of restaurant and cafe
facilities. Bar licences would strengthen this aspect of the centres' ancillary funding activities.
During the year, arts centres provided a range of arts events for the public in their areas including music recitals,
classical, contemporary and popular; professional drama productions; professional dance productions; poetry and other
readings; workshops in various artforms.
All of the arts centres supported by the Arts Council are governed by committees or boards of directors and employ
fulltime staff. Responsibility exercised by these board members who give of their time freely is onerous and the
Council gratefully acknowledges the selflessness and public spiritedness which informs the contributions of such
individuals.
The Council looks forward to being in a position to provide funding to arts centres more closely related to their needs.
However, the Council also hopes that local authorities will begin to see the ongoing funding of arts centres as a central
part of their support for arts provision at local level. The Council is determined to ensure, insofar as possible, that new
centres coming on stream will see a more realistic sharing of the funding responsibility between the local authorities
and the Council.
During 1991 the Council noted with satisfaction that the emphasis being laid by the centres on outreach activity both in
education, through liaison with schools and teachers, and in community arts. The programmes in Triskel, the Belltable,
Wexford and the City Centre are noteworthy in this connection.
Grants
ARTFLIGHT: 6 travel awards (in association with Aer Lingus)
Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick
City Arts Centre, Dublin
Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda
No. 47 & Nun's Island Arts Centre, Galway
Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford
The Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo
Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar
Project Arts Centre, Dublin
Triskel Arts Centre, Cork
West Cork Arts Centre, Skibbereen
Wexford Arts Centre
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
£
757
83,500
70,000
8,000
45,500
61,600
66,500
41,000
106,000
94,000
10,000
64,100
650,957
Most arts centres also receive financial assistance for specific schemes and projects from other Arts Council budgets
(q.v.).
Education
Activity in the area of education was somewhat curtailed during the year because of the absence of an Education
Officer. Nevertheless, the Council continued to provide a range of services to schools and to support professional arts
in education organisations and other organisations providing services to schools. These services include Writers- inSchools, Visual Artists in Schools (funded from the visual arts budget), touring exhibitions for schools, artists-inresidence programmes for schools and colleges of education, support for TEAM and Graffiti theatre-in-education
companies (funded from the drama budget) and services for schools provided by the Music Association of Ireland and
Ceol Chumann na nÓg.
To date, the education policy and practice of the Arts Council has concentrated on schools but is increasingly
expanding its interest beyond the formal education system. The Council now supports education programmes such as
those in Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, the Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin and the education programme run in conjunction
with the Exhibition of Visual Art in Limerick. Support for youth arts organisations like the National Association of
Youth Drama, Wet Paint Arts and The Dublin Youth Theatre, as well as initiatives like the European Youth Theatre
Encounter and the National Youth Arts Committee indicate the Arts Council's awareness of and commitment to the
vital need for the provision of experiences of art for young people in and out of schools.
During the year, the Council continued to seek sanction to fill the Education Officer post and records its
disappointment that such sanction was delayed.
£
Awards
ARTFLIGHT: 9 travel awards (in association with Aer Lingus)
653
Kieran Daly
Gordon Douglas
Patricia Hegarty
Siobhan Keane
Teresa Leahy
Mary Lennon
Regina Murphy
Grants
Butler Gallery, Kilkenny
Ceol Chumann na nÓg, Dublin
City Arts Centre, Dublin
Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin
Drumcondra Teachers' Centre
Dundalk Urban District Council
Eucrea
Exhibition of Visual Art, Limerick
Graffiti Theatre Company, Cork
Irish International Cultural Educational Trust, Thomastown
(Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation grant)
Music Association of Ireland
National Association for Youth Drama:
General revenue grant
European Youth Theatre Encounter (plus £7,500 in 1992)
Newpark Music Centre, Dublin
St Patrick's College of Education, Dublin
TEAM Theatre Company, Dublin
Triskel Arts Centre, Cork
750
350
750
350
334
750
350
270
7,500
1,500
1,400
500
1,940
7,000
10,000
37,000
1,085
18,500
16,600
15,000
1,200
1,000
61,000
900
Artists-in-residence-in-schools
Árdscoil Lorgan, Baile na Lorgan
Aughacasla National School, Tralee
Castle Park School, Dublin
Central Remedial Clinic, Dublin
Crossabeg National School, Wexford
Inver College, Co. Monaghan
Our Lady of Victories G.N.S., Dublin
St Brigid's National School, Dublin
St Luke's National School, Cork
St Pius X Girls National School, Dublin
Sligo School Project
Total/Awards and Grants
Arts Council Promotions
Writers-in-Schools Scheme
Sundry
Total/Direct Promotions
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
Grant Received
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
1,100
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
c/fwd 197,382
£
b/fwd 197,382
1,200
1,200
199,782
8,131
171
8,302
208,084
1,085
Development
In 1991 a management development committee reported to the Council on various measures to help support the
professional development of Irish arts managers. The members of the committee were Michael Colgan (Chairman),
Paul McGuinness, Laura Magahy, Ed Delaney, Emer McNamara and Patricia Quinn. Its recommendations included the
establishment of a bursary fund for arts management training, the publication of a series of handbooks on practical
aspects of arts management, and the promotion of an arts management conference.
The conference took place at the Irish Museum of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham on the 14th, 15th and
16th November, and was attended by more than 300 individuals from all over Ireland, North and South. Funding
partners were the National Lottery, IMMA and the Arts Council, and assistance was also received from the British
Council and Aer Lingus.
Arising out of the conference, an ad hoc committee was co-opted by conference delegates to consider the ongoing need
of Irish arts managers for a forum to discuss their concerns and promote their interests.
This committee entered 1992 under the title of the Standing Conference on Managing the Arts. Research initiatives in
1991 included the collection of comprehensive information on Local Authority spending on the arts in 1990 and 1991,
and the initiation of the two-year economic research project on Dublin theatres, with funding from the Irish- American
Partnership.
Regions
The Council endeavours to have all of its policies informed by a need to address the regions. In drama, for example, the
Council provides support for a number of theatre companies based in the regions as well as providing special
programming fund grants to regional arts centres to enable the presentation of high quality theatre productions. The
Council's visual arts policy lays emphasis on support for visual arts exhibitions and the provision of workplaces for
artists in the regions. The Council's music policy encompasses the need for music touring through Music Network and
support for regional music associations. The education policy of the Council encourages exhibitions in schools and
visits by artists be they visual artists or writers under various Council schemes. The Council's film policy continues to
provide support for film development in Cork and Galway and for film exhibition throughout the country through the
Federation of Film Societies.
Central to the Council's policy for regional development is the principle of subsidiarity whereby local arts organisations
are empowered through grant-aid to make decisions locally. A major element in this approach by the Council is to
devolve responsibility to local authorities and, in fact, encourage local authorities to become the arts council for their
own areas. The strategy adopted by the Arts Council in this connection is to fund up to 50% of the cost of employment
of specialist County Arts Officers by County Councils. The Council is pleased to note the success of this approach in
the range and quality of arts activity now taking place in those counties with County Arts Officers. Currently there are
12 County Arts Officer posts (with a further three under discussion) and the Council is committed to continuing to
engage with local authorities in this way. The Council is greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm for arts development
evident in a number of local authorities including Louth, where proposals are being developed for a major arts centre in
Drogheda, and in Galway and Kilkenny where proposals for new municipal theatres are being addressed. The Council
would wish to be in a position to provide substantial capital funds towards such projects throughout the country but,
unfortunately, resources do not at present so permit.
The Council's regional policy reflects its concern to provide the widest possible access for the general public to arts
activity throughout the country. At local level many of the people most dedicated to arts provision are found in the
amateur arts movement where the quality of work can often be of a high professional standard. This area of amateur
arts provision is one which the Council hopes that local authorities can satisfactorily address. However, as with all of
the Arts Council's policies, the Council's position remains under review.
A review of the Council's approach to regional arts development was undertaken during 1991 by a committee chaired
by Council member Larry McCluskey and including Council members Brid Dukes, Máire de Paor, Micheal O Siadhail
and Pat Hall. A report was presented to Council making strong recommendations for the creation of a greater balance
of funding and arts provision between Dublin and the regions. The recommendations of the report were adopted by the
Council and, subject to resources, will be implemented over the next number of years.
In this Annual Report, the Arts Council wishes to acknowledge the commitment of the corps of County Arts Officers
who devote a remarkable degree of time and energy to the promotion of the arts in their areas.
It should be noted that funds provided by the Council under this particular heading do not reflect the total amount being
applied by the Arts Council in the regions.
Awards
ARTFLIGHT: 4 travel awards (in association with Aer Lingus)
Mary Cloake
Traolach Ó Fionnain
c/fwd
b/fwd
Grants
Cavan County Council:
Clare County Council:
Donegal County Council:
Dublin Promotions Organisation
Dundalk UDC:
Galway County Council:
Kerry County Council:
Kildare County Council:
Kilkenny County Council:
Laois County Council:
Limerick Corporation:
Mayo County Council:
Monaghan County Council:
arts programme
administration
arts programme
administration
arts programme
administration
Dublin Arts Report
arts programme
administration
arts programme
administration
administration
administration
arts programme
administration
administration
arts programme
administration
arts programme
administration
arts programme
administration
£
652
641
100
1,393
£
1,393
8,500
9,017
5,000
10,766
11,000
10,146
5,000
10,000
8,871
4,000
7,836
6,102
3,399
3,600
9,290
2,362
8,200
9,033
10,000
8,880
4,000
9,000
Tyrone Guthrie Centre
Tyrone Guthrie Centre (ACNI grant)
Total Grants
66,000
33,000
264,395
Directly Promoted Activities
Exhibitions to regional venues
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
2,889
267,284
Grant Received
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (re Tyrone Guthrie Centre)
33,000
Community Arts and Festivals
Organisations
Macnas appointed Rod Goodall as its artistic Director at the close of 1990 and, with the founder Manager, Padraic
Breathnach, embarked upon restructuring the company. At Galway Arts Festival Macnas performed "Tír Faoi Thonn
II" to a crowd of some 20,000 people. At Christmas, Macnas performed a children's show in Galway, entitled "Circus
Stories", written by Trish Forde. Creative Activity for Everyone (C.A.F.E.), the national umbrella organisation for
community arts, opened an office in Belfast with funds from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Northern
Ireland Voluntary Trust. CAFE also published a booklet, entitled "The Fact Pack", to assist groups around the country
with the practice of community arts. Terri Mulhall was appointed Administrator.
Alternative Entertainments continued as a very lively broker of a large range of community-based activity in Tallaght.
Under Chairman, Pete Smyth and its Administrator, Liam Morrissey, numerous events were organised, among them the
Traditional Music Seminar and the Tallaght Rock Week-End.
Alternative Entertainments is now housed in the Tymon Bawn Community Centre.
The Tallaght Community Arts Centre project was advanced significantly by its promoter, Dublin County Council, with
the purchase of the old farm at Virginia House, next to The Square in Tallaght. The Arts Council is working in
association with Dublin County Council on this project and has offered a significant capital grant. It is envisaged that
Tallaght Community Arts Centre will place an important emphasis on outreach and community involvement.
The Arts Council commended the County Council for its willingness to steer the project in a hands-on and very
committed way.
Festivals
Throughout the country there was a proliferation of both major and minor arts festivals, particularly during the summer
months.
In July 1991, Galway Arts Festival was once again a phenomenal success under its new Programme Director, Trish
Forde, who succeeded the founder, Ollie Jennings. Royal de Luxe, the French theatre company, held their audiences
spellbound at their free show. A number of new theatre companies have set up in Galway in the past few years, and
these were on view during the Festival. Apart from Druid and Macnas, Punchbag performed a piece by Rita Ann
Higgins and Na Fánaithe gave a a radical version of Lorca's "Yerma", in an Irish-language translation.
Éigse Carlow achieved the very difficult feat of doubling its scale in one year, under the dynamic committee, led by
Bev Carbery.
In Blanchardstown Dublin 15 Community Arts Festival expanded and Vincent Sheridan completed a fine community
mosaic in Roselawn Library.
In Dublin under CAFE's brokerage, the first Community Drama Festival took place with nine groups taking part in an
exciting set of performances in April and May. The groups were: The Balcony Belles, Sheriff Street; Brown Street
Family Centre Women's Drama Group; Clondalkin Travellers' Drama Group; Lourdes Youth and Community Services
Drama Group; St Helena's Drama Group, Finglas; Walk the Talk, Coolock; Women's Education and Training Initiative;
Fatima Mansions Women's Group. Liz Riches produced a report on the event which is published by CAFE.
ARTIST-IN-THE-COMMUNITY SCHEME
Several of the projects from Round 1 came to fruition. President Robinson opened two of these, namely the ceramics
project of Fiona Bourke and the women and young people of Adapt House, Limerick, and the print project of Lil
Sullivan with the Mayfield Community Arts Project, Cork.
Four projects were announced as part of Round 2 of the scheme and these took place in whole or in part in 1991.
1. Adrian Kenny and Clondalkin Women Travellers' Development Group
This involved Adrian Kenny taking photographs throughout the country on travellers' sites with the women producing
audiotape interviews.
2. Cormac Herrity and Overture and Beginners Group
This was a dance project held in Kilcar, Co. Donegal in August with several community dances based on the traditional
fiddle music of South Donegal.
3. Anthony Cuthbert, Cork
He will work in 1992 with several groups, including some persons with disabilities, on a percussion project.
4. Lyn Waterson, Co. Donegal
She is working on the re-creation of a Fair Day in Falcarragh, Co. Donegal.
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR COMMUNITY ARTS
The Committee achieved its goal of assisting in the provision of training courses. A grant was offered by the
Committee to CAFE for its National Arts Worker Course, a new course for community artists.
The Committee encouraged Wet Paint Arts in its attempt to devise arts modules for the courses in Youth and
Community Studies at Maynooth College. This may develop into useful provision for community activists and youth
workers. The Committee also encouraged the Arts Administration Unit, UCD, under Anne Kelly, to try to devise a
course, or courses, for local authority personnel to enhance their awareness of the benefits of community arts practice.
Special Events
The Council contributed to the Irish Quilt Tour, which was an exhibition of quilt pieces made by those who
commemorated relatives or friends who had died of AIDS-related illnesses.
A Woman's Place was a series of projects by several women's groups in Dublin to produce their own visual works. It
was facilitated by the sculptor, Patricia Hurll and eventually exhibited centrally at the City Centre Arts Centre.
The Dublin Theatre Festival provided an opportunity to see the astounding Edinburgh community drama, "Glad",
performed by homeless men and women on the topic of homelessness. This classic of community drama was presented
by the City Centre Arts Centre.
£
Awards
Éilis Ní Fhaolain
ARTFLIGHT: 5 travel awards (in association with Aer Lingus)
Organisations
Alternative Entertainments, Tallaght (see also Traditional Arts)
CAFE/Creative Activity for Everyone, Dublin (see also ACE)
CAFE (ACNI grant)
CAFE (Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation grant)
Dublin Youth Theatre
Macnas, Galway
Theatre Omnibus, Limerick
Theatre Omnibus, Co. Clare (Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation grant)
Wet Paint Arts, Dublin
Festivals
Galway Arts Festival
Kilkenny Arts Week
Sligo Community Arts Group/Sligo Arts Festival
The Arts is Magic Festival, Dublin
Ballyfermot Arts Group
Boyle Arts Festival
Cibeal Cincise, Kenmare
Clifden Community Arts Week
Cootehill Arts Festival
Daonscoil na Mumhan
Dublin 15 Community Arts Festival
Éigse Carlow
F.R. Higgins Committee, Co. Mayo
Monaghan County Arts Committee
George Moore Society, Co. Mayo
Westport Arts Festival
Writers Week, Listowel
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation / Dublin 1991 European City of Culture grants:
Dublin 15 Community Arts Festival
Dublin City Public Libraries
Kilbarrack Local Education for Adult Renewal
200
708
8,000
12,692
6,608
7,654
8,500
25,000
20,500
5,394
27,000
45,800
20,000
12,500
1,500
1,500
500
2,000
4,000
1,500
300
2,000
2,000
200
2,000
1,000
c/fwd
219,056
£
b/fwd 219,056
600
1,000
550
550
550
Artists-in-the-Community Projects
Adapt House, Limerick (Mid-Western refuge for abused women and their children)
Project with Fiona Bourke, artist
Clondalkin Women Travellers Development
Group Project with Aidan Kenny and Anita Ward, photographers
Falcarragh Tourists and Traders, Co. Donegal Project with Lynda Waterson, artist
Galway Rape Crisis Centre
Project with Maria Gibbon, videomaker
Kilcar and Teelin Community
Drama Group Project with Cormac Herrity, choreographer
Killinarden Parish Community Centre, Dublin Project with Peter Smith, photographer
Lourdes Youth and Community Services, Dublin Project with John Byrne, artist
Mayfield Youth Training Workshop, Cork Project with Lil O'Sullivan, artist
1,000
1,500
1,500
1,500
2,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
Less: Previous year's grants not required
Total Grants
(3,300)
229,506
Sundry
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
330
229,836
£
Grants Received
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (re CAFE)
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
6,608
14,698
21,306
ARTS/COMMUNITY/EDUCATION (ACE) PROGRAMME
CAFE/Creative Activity for Everyone (see also Community Arts)
National Youth Council of Ireland
3,500
21,785
Administration
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
9,071
34,356
Capital
Grants
Payments during 1991 for capital purposes amounted to £846,000. The Irish Film Centre, Dublin received a further
payment of £138,000, leaving £292,000 to be paid out over 1992-93, out of a total commitment of £550,000. The Fire
Station Artists Studios, Buckingham Street received £305,000, leaving £238,000 outstanding out of a total of £750,000.
The Buckingham Street Studios and the Irish Film Centre will be opened during 1992. In July 1991, President
Robinson officially opened five self-catering studios at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Co. Monaghan. The construction of
this very well-designed and significant addition to the existing facilities at the Centre was made possible by grants from
the Council (£170,000) from the International Fund for Ireland (£190,000) and other sources.
Future capital commitments at 31st December 1991 amounted to £1,813,000, payable over the years 1992- 93-94. If
payments already made are taken into account, allocations by the Council for capital purposes over the five-year period
1990 to 1994 will have amounted to almost £4 million.
£
1991 Capital Grants
Abbey Theatre, Dublin
100,000
Fire Station Artists Studios, Dublin
305,000
Fossetts Circus, Dublin
10,000
Gate Theatre, Dublin
90,000
Irish Film Centre, Dublin
138,000
Kilkenny Corporation/New Theatre Project
6,100
National Sculpture Factory, Cork (balance)
60,000
Project Arts Centre, Dublin (plus £17,500 in 1992)
10,000
Temple Bar Gallery & Studios, Dublin (plus £11,000 in 1992)
17,000
Irish Traditional Music Archive, Dublin
40,000
Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Co. Monaghan (balance)
50,000
Tyrone Guthrie Centre (Guthrie Estate)
20,019
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
846,119
Grant Received
Tyrone Guthrie Trust
20,019
Sundry
£
3,000
10,000
1,000
1,750
9,240
24,990
Grants
Arts Act, 1973, Section 12 (Scholarships)
Ciste Cholmcille
COTHÚ/Business Council for the Arts and Heritage
Irish American Partnership
Minimum Income Guarantees
Directly Promoted Activities
Aosdána:
Administration
Pension Scheme
11,765
24,482
36,247
Management of the Arts Conference
(Cost to Arts Council, net of grants received: £17,921)
Popular Music Project
Annual Reports (1989 + 1990)
Information and Arts Management Handbooks
Research and Information projects
Awards programmes
Sundry
Total as Note 4 (page 52)
Grants Received
British Council (Management Conference)
Drogheda Corporation (Arts Act, 1973, Section 12)
Irish Museum of Modem Art (Management Conference)
National Lottery (Management Conference)
Wexford Corporation (Arts Act, 1973, Section 12)
Total as Note 2 (page 51)
62,921
42,779
8,712
5,702
11,250
16,210
2,946
211,757
5,000
1,000
10,000
30,000
2,000
48,000
An Chomhairle Ealaíon
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31st December 1991
Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
I have examined in accordance with auditing standards the Accounts set out on pages 47 to 55 which are in the form
approved under the provisions of the Arts Acts, 1951.1 have obtained all the information and explanations which I
considered necessary for the purpose of my audit.
In my opinion proper books of account have been kept by An Chomhairle and the Accounts, which are in agreement
with them, give a true and fair view of the state of its affairs at 31st December 1991 and of its transactions and sources
and application of funds for the year then ended.
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES
1. General
An Chomhairle Ealaíon is an independent body set up pursuant to the Arts Acts 1951 and 1973 to promote and assist
the arts.
2. Basis of Accounting
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention.
3. Oireachtas Grant
Income shown as Oireachtas Grant-in-Aid is the actual cash received in the year from the Vote for An Chomhairle
Ealaíon (£4,724,000) and the Vote for Increases in Remuneration (£244,000). Income from the National Lottery is also
the cash received in the year.
4. Fixed Assets
Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation which is charged at rates calculated to write-off the cost of
each asset over its expected useful life on a straight line basis, as follows:
Furniture and Equipment
Motor Vehicle
over 5 years
over 4 years
Works of art are stated at cost and are not depreciated.
5. Capital Account
The Capital Account represents the unamortised amount of income used to acquire fixed assets. The transfer to or from
the Income and Expenditure Account represents the net change in the book value of fixed assets.
6. Bad Debts
No provision is made in these accounts for bad debts. Debts and loans are written-off as necessary in the year in which
it is recognised that they have become irrecoverable.
7. Superannuation
The Council's contributions to superannuation costs are charged to the Income and Expenditure Account in the period
to which they relate and over the length of an employee's service or of membership of Aosdána.
An Chomhairle Ealaíon
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
for the year ended 31st December 1991
Notes
Income
Oireachtas Grant-in-aid
National Lottery
Funds of Suitors
Other Grants
Other Income
(la)
(1b)
(2)
(3)
Current Expenditure
Expenditure on the arts
Administration
(4)
(5)
Surplus (Deficit)
Transfer to Capital Account
(7)
Net Surplus (Deficit) for the year
Accumulated deficit brought forward
Accumulated deficit carried forward
1991
IR£
1990
IR£
4,968,000
4,988,000
125,000
551,295
33,307
10,665,602
4,530,000
4,948,000
246,561
30,302
9,754,863
10,076,100
694,592
10,770,692
(105,090)
(7,842)
(112,932)
(50,631)
(163,563)
9,011,535
665,546
9,677,081
77,782
(60,142)
17,640
(68,271)
(50,631)
The Statement of Accounting Policies and Principles and Notes 1 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
Colm Ó hEocha,
Chairman
Adrian Munnelly,
Director
19th May 1992
An Chomhairle Ealaíon
BALANCE SHEET AT 31st December 1991
Fixed Assets
Financial Assets
Trust Funds
Loans
Notes
(6)
1991
IR£
297,047
1990
IR£
289,205
(8)
(9)
139,837
173,942
128,238
219,950
Current Assets
Grants paid in advance
Debtors and prepayments
Bank
Current Liabilities
Creditors and accruals
Grants outstanding
Bank
Net Current Liabilities
Total Assets less Current Liabilities
Represented by
Capital Account
Income and Expenditure Account: Deficit
Trust Funds
(7)
(8)
178,820
123,793
302,613
72,277
55,777
161,335
289,389
93,082
540,908
6,128
640,118
76,657
483,313
559,970
(337,505)
273,321
(270,581)
366,812
297,047
(163,563)
139,837
273,321
289,205
(50,631)
128,238
366,812
The Statement of Accounting Policies and Principles and Notes 1 to 12 form part of these financial statements
Colm Ó hEocha,
Chairman
Adrian Munnelly,
Director
19th May 1992
An Chomhairle Ealaíon
STATEMENT OF SOURCE AND USE OF FUNDS
for the year ended 31st December 1991
Sources of Funds
Surplus (Deficit) for the year
Fixed asset disposal
Loans repaid
Items not involving the movement of funds
Depreciation
Surplus on disposal of fixed assets
Transfer to Capital Account
Loans converted to grants
Total generated from operations
Use of funds
Loans advanced
Purchase of fixed assets
Decrease in Working Capital
Represented by movements in
Grants paid in advance
Debtors
Creditors
Grants and guarantees outstanding
Net liquid funds/cash at bank
Colm Ó hEocha,
Chairman
Adrian Munnelly,
Director
19th May 1992
1991
IR£
1990
IR£
(112,932)
9,685
110,350
17,640
29,431
(1,851)
7,842
2,000
44,525
29,257
60,142
2,600
174,905
(66,342)
(45,107)
(66,924)
(139,175)
(83,999)
(48,269)
106,543
68,016
(16,425)
(57,595)
(38,699)
(13,153)
(12,868)
(23,501)
(167,463)
(66,924)
34,552
(53,669)
65,266
Note 1a: National Lottery
Pursuant to Section 5(l)(a) of the National Lottery Act, 1986, a sum of £4,988,000 was paid to the Council on the
determination of the Government and was expended in accordance with Section 5(2) of the Arts Act, 1951, as part of
the Council's programme of support for the arts.
Note 1b: Funds of Suitors
Pursuant to Section 3(2)(a) of the Funds of Suitors Act, 1984, a sum of £125,000 was paid to the Council on the
determination of the Taoiseach and was expended in accordance with Section 5(2) of the Arts Act, 1951, as part of the
Council's programme of grant-aid for capital purposes. This payment was the final instalment of funds allocated to the
Council under the provisions of the Act.
Note 2: Other Grants
[The project or scheme for which each grant was designated is given in parentheses]
Literature:
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (Grants)
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Grant)
Department of the Taoiseach (European Literary and Translation
Prizes)
Dublin Promotions Organisation Ltd (International Writers'
Conference)
European Commission (International Writers' Conference)
European Commission (European Literary and Translation Prizes)
£
29,392
3,277
£
2,757
20,000
19,118
271,467
346,011
Visual Arts:
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (Exhibition Venue Guide)
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Andrew Folan Exhibition)
Department of Justice (Artists-in-Prisons)
Dublin Corporation (Award)
Spanish Cultural Institute (Award)
Film:
Drama:
Traditional Arts:
Music:
Dance:
Education:
Community Arts:
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (Art-on-Film project)
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Open House project)
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (Grants)
Dublin Corporation (Award)
Dublin Corporation (Award)
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Grant)
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (Grant)
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Grants)
Regions:
Capital:
Sundry:
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (Grant to Tyrone Guthrie Centre)
Tyrone Guthrie Trust (Grant)
British Council (Arts Management Conference)
Irish Museum of Modern Art (Arts Management Conference)
National Lottery (Arts Management Conference)
Drogheda Corporation (Awards)
Wexford Corporation (Awards)
3,244
3,850
3,200
1,500
400
12,194
43,267
7,483
15,930
1,500
1,500
1,085
6,608
14,698
21,306
33,000
20,019
5,000
10,000
30,000
1,000
2,000
48,000
551,295
Note 3: Other Income
Sundry Income
Surplus on disposal of fixed assets
1991
£
31,456
1,851
33,307
1990
£
30,302
30,302
Note 4: Expenditure on the Arts
Grants
Literature
*Visual Arts
Film
Drama
Dance
Traditional Arts
Opera
Music
Arts Centres
Arts in Education
Community Arts and Festivals
Arts/Community / Education
Arts development in the regions
Capital
Sundry
TOTALS
Directly
Promoted
Activities
£
362,375
38,404
8,015
1,535
1,214
2,000
650
8,302
330
9,071
2,889
186,767
621,552
£
605,362
1,055,090
328,123
3,629,979
299,814
268,082
561,915
465,149
650,200
199,782
229,506
26,042
264,395
846,119
24,990
9,454,548
1991
Total
1990
Total
£
967,737
1,093,494
336,138
3,631,514
301,028
270,082
562,565
465,149
650,957
208,084
229,836
34,356
267,284
846,119
211,757
10,076,100
£
586,687
1,016,495
254,279
3,361,769
320,901
212,483
512,858
384,352
542,349
263,381
194,625
36,800
213,400
985,846
125,310
9,011,535
*Visual Arts expenditure includes grants towards the cost of works of art acquired by approved bodies under the
Council's Joint Purchase Scheme. The works may not be sold without the prior agreement of the Council and, in the
event of such agreement, they may not be resold for less than their original price and half the sum realised shall be
refunded to the Council.
Previous year's figures have been restated where necessary for comparison purposes.
Note 5: Administration
Salaries, PRSI and Superannuation
Council and Staff Expenses
Consultants' Fees and Expenses
Rent, Light, Heat, Insurances, Cleaning, Repairs and other House Expenses
Printing, Stationery, Postage, Telephone and Sundry Expenses
Depreciation
1991
£
398,453
109,258
7,716
76,621
73,113
29,431
694,592
1990
£
369,219
100,586
15,692
83,083
67,709
29,257
665,546
Note 6: Fixed Assets
Cost
Balance at 31st December 1990
Additions at cost
Disposals at cost
Balance at 31st December 1991
Depredation
Balance at 31st December 1990
Charge for the year
Disposals
Balance at 31st December 1991
Net Book Value
At 31st December 1991
At 31st December 1990
Works of Art
Motor Vehicle
£
214,318
8,950
223,268
223,268
214,318
£
15,670
17,985
(15,670)
17,985
Furniture and
Equipment
£
144,340
18,172
162,512
£
374,328
45,107
(15,670)
403,765
7,836
4,496
(7,836)
4,496
77,287
24,935
102,222
85,123
29,431
(7,836)
106,718
60,290
67,053
297,047
289,205
13,489
7,834
TOTAL
Note 7: Capital Account
Balance at 1st January
Purchase of Fixed Assets
Disposal of Fixed Assets
Depredation
Depreciation on disposals
1990
£
229,063
1991
£
289,205
45,107
(15,670)
29,437
29,431
(7,836)
21,595
Transfer from Income and Expenditure Account
Balance at 31st December
Note 8: Trust Funds:
Assets at 31st December 1991
President Douglas Hyde Award
£2,161
7.50% Capital Stock, 1999
(Market Value of Securities £1,976)
Cash at Bank
89,399
89,399
29,257
29,257
60,142
289,205
53
7,842
297,047
2,000
502
2,502
W.7.B. Macaulay Foundation
£31,337
13% Exchequer Stock, 1994
£ 1,000
9% Capital Loan, 1996
(Market Value of Securities £34,702)
Cash at Bank
31,249
1,020
7,727
39,996
New York Irish Institute Fund
£1,870
7.50% Capital Stock, 1999
(Market Value of Securities £1,710)
Denis Devlin Foundation
£3,761
13% Exchequer Stock, 1994
£1,000
9% Capital Loan, 1996
(Market Value of Securities £5,030)
Cash at Bank
1,736
1,736
3,766
1,020
3,203
7,989
Ciste Cholmcille
£1,200
7% National Loan, 1987-92
£1,020
9.75% National Development Loan, 1992-97
£2,000
11 % National Loan, 1993-98
£5,466
7.50% Capital Stock 1999
£5,360
Bank of Ireland Capital Stock
11,921
Allied Irish Banks pie 25p shares
(Market Value of Securities £39,893)
Debtor
Cash at Bank
1,030
1,005
1,840
5,000
15,855
34,729
837
13,878
49,444
Marten Toonder Foundation
£6,000
11 % National Loan, 1993-98
£6,600
12% Conversion Stock, 1995
£4,370
13% Exchequer Stock, 1994
£8,433
Bank of Ireland Capital Stock
19,804
Allied Irish Banks pie 25p shares
(Market Value of Securities £68,025)
Creditor
Debtor
Cash at Bank
5,583
6,711
4,373
6,291
11,998
34,956
(3,500)
1,474
4,826
37,756
Concannon Arts Award
Cash at bank
414
139,837
Securities are shown at cost and are held in trust by An Chomhairle Ealaíon
Note 8: continued
Movement of Trust Funds
President Douglas Hyde Award
W.J.B. Macaulay Foundation
New York Irish Institute Fund
Denis Devlin Foundation
Ciste Cholmcille
Marten Toonder Foundation
Concannon Arts Award
31st
December
1990
£
2,227
38,837
1,691
7,214
41,892
35,991
386
128,238
Income Expenditure
£
275
4,659
215
775 14,052
5,265
28
25,269
£
(3,500)
(170)
(6,500)
(3,500)
(13,670)
31st
December
1991
£
2,502
39,996
1,736
7,989
49,444
37,756
414
139,837
Note 9: Interest-free Loans
During 1991 eleven additional interest-free loans
were given:
Balance at 31st December 1990
Additional Loans
Repayments
Loans converted to grants
Balance at 31st December 1991
£
219,950
66,342
(110,350)
(2,000)
173,942
Note 10: Premises
The Council occupies premises at 70 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 under a lease which expires in 2014. The annual rent is
£53,000 subject to a review every five years. The next review falls due in 1994.
Note 11: Future Commitments
At 31st December 1991 the Council had entered into commitments in connection with activities due to take place after
that date. The amount involved, £8,025,000, is not reflected in these financial statements.
Note 12: Superannuation Schemes
(a) A Staff Superannuation Scheme under the Arts Act, 1973, Section 10, is in operation. Benefits are defined and the
Scheme provides for equal contributions to be made by Council and staff. The assets of the Scheme comprise a
combination of an insured fund and a managed fund and are controlled by Irish Pensions Trust Ltd, acting as
independent corporate trustees. The investment manager is Irish Life Assurance pie.
Actuarial reviews are carried out every three years. The last review, carried out as at 1st January 1989, showed that,
while the assets were more than sufficient to cover accrued liabilities based on current salary levels, they were not
sufficient to cover accrued liabilities in respect of past service taking into account future salary increases. In view of
this, the Actuary strongly recommended a funding increase. A provision at current premium rates is maintained in
respect of the expected liabilities but funds have not been provided to meet these liabilities. The next actuarial review
will be undertaken as at 1st January 1992.
Total staff superannuation costs charged to the Income and Expenditure Account for the current year are £30,163
(1990: £30,082).
(b) A Superannuation Scheme is in operation for members of Aosdána on the basis of insured annuity contracts and
defined contributions. The cost of the annual premiums is shared equally by the Council and the members. The charge
to the Income and Expenditure Account for the current year is £24,482 (1990: £20,595).