The Arts Council is to ask the incoming Government to provide €100 million funding for the arts in 2008 as part of their new Programme for Government, a €20 million increase on funding for 2007. Mary Cloake, Director of the Arts Council, said: “Our new knowledge economy needs the arts more than ever. It’s our ability to adapt, our creativity and our management of knowledge that will secure our future success. All of these much needed and increasingly highly rated traits stem directly from an involvement in and exposure to the arts, so it makes financial sense for the Government to continue to invest in the arts.” For more information, CLICK HERE