Sept 11, 2011 Sunday Independent Towards a new and better Ireland


Minister for the Arts Jimmy Deenihan says this Government is committed to supporting dynamic and imaginative interaction between the business and arts communities


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T is the Irish Government’s intention to make the arts and culture part of our “primary


script” – in other words, they would no longer be regarded as a discretionary activity, but rather a central part of the narrative about the character of a new, dif- ferent and better Ireland. This is according to Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD, who holds the view that “dynamism in arts and culture induces dynamism in a country”. “This dynamism is realised through the process of stimulation through music, plays, books, films, works of art, design, in architec- ture and in crafts – all of which facilitates a country’s capacity to be reflective, interested and bold,” he says.


Since 2006, the Government, through the Department of Arts has invested over ¤962m in the arts, culture and film sectors. The 2011 estimates provide for almost ¤150m investment in the sectors. The Minister stresses he is total- ly committed towards the con- tinued support of the arts and culture sectors, while recognis- ing the limited financial resources available and taking account of the evolving budgetary and esti- mates situation. “I am fully aware of the diffi-


culties facing all of those involved in these areas and the tremen- dous work they have done in max- imising the available resources. “On the arts, culture and film area, over the course of five years, this Government will continue to work to maintain employment levels in the sector. We will sup- port the invaluable work of the Arts Council, the Film Board and Culture Ireland in maintaining the fundamental services provid- ed to the arts and culture sectors. “We will also continue to devel- op the priceless contribution of our cultural institutions to the overall wellbeing of our commu- nity. We want to grow the engage- ment with the arts from the community up, with particular reference to young people. We will develop a cultural plan for future commemorative events such as the Centenary of the East- er Rising in 2016.”


Supporting arts and business


Minister Deenihan is “deeply com- mitted” to the need for and value of interactions between the arts and business. “I am very anxious that every opportunity is taken to further such activities. They are mutually beneficial to all con- cerned. “The arts are part and parcel of life and involvement by the busi- ness community helps to bring this home and to make the arts


Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD, who says the Government intends to make sure that the arts and culture play an intrinsic role in a new Ireland


more accessible to everyone. What is terrific about this aspect is the fact that support is possible at so many and varied and imagina- tive levels,” he notes. “From sponsorship of events, as in the Jameson Dublin Inter- national Film Festival and the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Fes- tival, to supporting venues, or individual artists, to competitions -- all are welcome. Each in its own


way can allow both the support- er and the supported to learn and grow and approach their respec- tive areas of expertise in a differ- ent way.” The Minister cites Dublin Con- temporary 2011 (DC2011) as an example of an initiative that brings the arts, business and tourism together in an integrated way, such as through KPMG’s sup- port of their education pro-


gramme. DC2011 can be broadly described as a major exhibition of leading and emerging Irish and interna- tional contemporary art spread across a number of landmark sites in Dublin City over a period of eight weeks from 6 September. The project aims to achieve a vibrant international art event, which will showcase excellence in Irish and international con-


A meeting of minds


The Allianz Business to Arts Awards are all about partnership and we must continue to facilitate this collaboration between our corporate and cultural sectors, writes Stuart McLaughlin, chief executive, Business to Arts


THE 20th Business to Arts Awards, 10 of these in partnership with Allianz and all 20 accompanied by the support of the Dublin Airport Authority, come at a time where, arguably, the mission of Business to Arts is more relevant than ever. As pressures increase on all aspects


of society, with purse strings tighter in both the public and the private sec- tors, it is vital that we work in part- nership to find the most effective ways to make our investment in cul- ture count. In recent years we have borne wit- ness to an increased focus by the business community on the sophis- tication of their support of culture. Alongside this, we have been heart- ened by the positive engagement of Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan TD on the commitment in the Programme for Government to work with stake- holders to develop greater private support of the arts in Ireland. It would be easy to dismiss this


opportunity while we are in the eye of a storm, and when there are so many forces competing for our atten- tion, but our work in Business to Arts is underpinned as ever with the belief that a rich stream of culture underpins the foundations of a rich society. That is not to say that culture should be supported at the expense of other areas, but that we must find the right blend of support that enables the arts to continue to be an important part of our story here in Ireland both today and into the future. This ‘story’ has been the focus of much debate and discussion over the last two years, much of it triggered by the first Global Irish Economic


Stuart McLaughlin, chief executive of Business to Arts at this year’s Allianz Business to Arts Awards


Forum at Farmleigh, where the topic of culture appeared as an unlikely winner and created an opportunity for the arts to take centre stage in rethinking and shaping the Irish brand and reputation international- ly.


Perhaps, a little sadly, this oppor-


tunity has not been grasped effec- tively. There have been some shining initiatives, most notably the Imagine Ireland campaign created by Cul- ture Ireland. But while much of the internal debate has focused on chal- lenges around funding and whether


we should be wary of how we might ‘monetise’ the arts (a misunderstood statement if ever there was one), we have failed to fully grasp the task at hand of constructing a joined-up approach between our corporate and cultural sectors, which benefits us both locally and internationally. As we approach the second Glob-


al Irish Economic Forum, to be held in Dublin Castle this October, we must re-examine this approach and bring a new cohesiveness to our thinking. We hope that some of the projects


‘We must find the right blend of support that enables the arts to continue to be an important part of our story here in Ireland both today and into the future’


ship. It might be argued that the ability to work together in a mutually beneficial way is increasingly impor- tant both in the context of the part- nerships we celebrate, and in a far wider sense. It is clear that with the challenges we face there is little value in sitting in ivory towers or in retreat- ing to our own positions of interest. We must address the challenges we face in partnership and this means being open to new conversations, to looking beyond a narrow range of interests and considering the widest possible ramifications of success and failure. In many of our actions it is easy to find ourselves preaching to the converted, but now we must look further.


It is a feature of our own conver-


highlighted in this year’s Allianz Busi- ness to Arts Awards can contribute to a realisation that, in partnership, companies of all sizes, from the glob- al giants of Google and BNP Paribas, through to the indigenous companies such as Bord Gáis and local organi- sations embedded in communities, can work with the cultural commu- nity to create the environment nec- essary to reinforce our reputation for having culture at the heart of our story. Having done this, we must then look at how we tell this story and, most importantly, how we tell it together. The very essence of the Allianz Business to Arts Awards is partner-


sations between Allianz and Busi- ness to Arts in 2011. We are examining the methods and approaches that will allow us maximise the value that can be created by the annual awards, to reach new audiences and con- sumers and to engage more people in the discussion about the contribution that the arts makes to our lives, to the differences that our business can make in the impact of this aspect of society and to inform how we might do this in partnership. These annual awards began before the economy boomed. They pre- dated the Celtic tiger and, as with many aspects of Irish life, we might reflect that more could have been achieved during the good times. But rather than this pensive reflection we, in tandem with our partners, will continue to look at the extraordi- nary opportunity that the current uncertainty can create and how we can make the most of this – for all of our benefits.


temporary art affording Ireland with a position as a core essential viewing platform in the arts cal- endar alongside the major con- temporary art platforms internationally “DC2011 will be the largest con- temporary art event of its kind and scale ever held in Ireland; it will provide a highlight for cul- tural tourism in Ireland on a glob- al scale and also contribute to the


rebranding of Ireland globally, demonstrating the resilience and renewed confidence of the nation, and the creative vibrancy of Dublin as our capital city,” states the Minister. “DC2011 aims to bring key cul- tural institutions across the city together with private galleries and public realm art installations to create the critical mass of a truly city-wide exhibition.”


Business to Arts – 20 years


Regarding the 20th anniversary of the Allianz Business to Arts Awards, the Minister stated it was “testament to the tenacity and vision” of its founders. “We should remember that the


arts and culture landscape of the early Nineties, while thriving, was so different to the vibrant and exciting scene we have today. “Business to Arts has formed a backdrop to the evolution of the arts and culture sectors in this period – an era which has seen, for instance, the tremendous increas- es in arts funding to the Arts Council by the State from around


ALLIANZ BUSINESS TO ARTS AWARDS 2011 7


‘The arts are part and parcel of life and involvement by the business community helps to bring this home and to make the arts more accessible to everyone’


¤12m to its present allocation of ¤65m, not to mention the rapid increase in the number of arts and culture venues now situated all across the country.” The work of Business to Arts has been complementary to, and sometimes ahead of, the estab- lishment thinking in anticipat- ing, sensing, encouraging and developing the linkages between the arts and business, he contin- ues. “The Department responsible for the arts over the years has recognised the part which can be played by the business community and was happy to offer some small financial support to Business to Arts in driving its ideals. “In this regard it was rewarding to see the Business to Arts organ- isation successfully applying to our Department's Cultural Tech- nology scheme in 2010 and sourc- ing funds to launch its crowd-funding project Fund it to facilitate fund raising by a variety of arts and culture based initiatives.”


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