The Arts Council of Ireland has launched its report ‘Socio Economic Conditions of Theatre Practitioners in Ireland.’ The publication of the report, which focuses on the financial pressures faced by the nation’s theatre practitioners, coincides with the Arts Council’s attempts to leverage more government funding for the arts in 2006. Speaking at the report launch, Olive Braiden, Chair of the Arts Council, said: “There is a perception in Ireland and many other countries that performing artists enjoy celebrity, wealth and privilege. This study clearly shows that the opposite is the case.” The focal point of the report, undertaken by Hibernian Consulting between February and September 2005, is a survey of 195, out of an estimated 900, theatre practitioners working in Ireland. For the purposes of the study, theatre practitioners were defined: ‘as performing artists (actors, dancers/choreographers in theatre productions); production artists (playwrights, directors, designers); technical and managerial practitioners (technicians, stage and production managers and producers).’ The report found that theatre practitioners:

are significantly better educated compared with the wider population,

work only an average of 20 weeks a year in their main specialist area,

demonstrate an ability to manage on frugal incomes and work multiple jobs (not related to their specialist area of interest),

compare poorly with the wider population in terms of quality of life issues such as home ownership and accumulating savings,

love their work despite the challenges. Also speaking at the launch, Mary Cloake, Director at the Arts Council, said: “Research of this kind marks the Arts Council’s commitment towards increased evidence-based policy making for the arts in Ireland. This report has just come into our own hands and little more than a month later we are publishing it. The reason for this is simple. There are many important financial decisions for the arts in the coming weeks. Historically the arts have lacked adequate resources and adequate recognition. We want this report in the public domain, so there can be no doubt about the financial struggle that working in the arts means for so many.” To download a copy of the report choose from either the Executive Summary or the Full Study. For further information, CLICK HERE.