The Irish Government will be granting the Arts Council of Ireland €72.3 million for 2006. This is a significant increase in funds, with last year’s budget of €61 million. A supplementary grant of €500,000 was also given to the Council this year for traditional arts. The Arts Council funding represents an increase of 18.5%, three times the national average of the overall Government spending increase. Mary Cloake, Director of the Arts Council said: “This is a major vote of confidence in the arts community and a recognition of the important contribution the arts make to our society. .. This increased funding allocation of 18.5% to the Arts Council represents a belief in what we want to achieve. The funds will be put to very good use. The Arts Council has prepared a new strategy for supporting the arts, which will be published in December. The strategy is ambitious, and sets a target of €100m for arts funding by 2008. Today’s news is a very significant step forward towards this goal.” However, the Arts Council maintains that it will need €79.3 million in 2006 so that it may operate adequately. On the bright side, funding in 1997 was €26.4 million, and in 2006 the Council will be receiving three times that much. For more information, CLICK HERE.