Under a new joint initiative by the arts councils in Ireland and Northern Ireland, North South touring is set to increase. Further to an effort by the the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) to work together to process North South touring applications and make joint funding decisions, it was announced today that 10 successful applications would receive grants totalling €285,000.
The joint initiative saw 34 applications processed across seven art forms, with the greatest number in theatre (10) and music (8). The total amount requested was €1,350,000.
The decision to combine resources and work together to create a simpler, joined-up approach was taken at a joint plenary meeting of The Arts Council and ACNI in May 2013. Both arts councils wished to address a noted decline in artistic work being performed and exhibited on both sides of the border in recent years. The new approach is aimed at encouraging and incentivising such tours.
The 10 successful applications are being financed under a co-funding agreement whereby each arts council funds events taking place in its own jurisdiction. It is hoped that audiences will benefit through increased access to performances and exhibitions.
The framework provided by The Arts Council’s existing Touring and Dissemination of Work Scheme was used by both arts councils to process applications.
Speaking today, Orlaith McBride, Director of the Arts Council said: "We are delighted to announce that ten applications have been awarded grants that will facilitate them in planning tours which cross the border. This is good news for audiences in Ireland and Northern Ireland who will be able to discover an enhanced variety of top quality work from each jurisdiction. We look forward to continuing to work closely together with ACNI to promote greater cross border touring in the years to come."
Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: "In the spirit of partnership between the two Arts Councils, the benefit of a single, straightforward mechanism that would determine funding for cross border tours was an obvious goal to achieve for artists north and south. It is our hope that artists and venues will be encouraged by today’s announcement, and will aspire to tour further, bringing great art to as many new audiences as possible."
http://www.artscouncil.ie/en/news/news.aspx?article=06a2fd87-45e4-4989-986b-51e0cf2f45ca