Local organisations get funding boost

THE Arts Council has announced an investment of €208,000 in three Clare-based organisations.

Funding of €86,000 is going to Glór Irish Music Centre, €42,000 to Salmon Poetry and €80,000 to Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy. The funding comes through the Arts Council’s three main annual grants programmes.
In addition, Clare will also receive Arts Council funding for touring, projects and bursaries for talented artists throughout the year.

Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy is the country’s largest traditional music summer school, while Glór is now in its 12th year offering theatre, children’s shows, music, dance and visual arts. This year is the 30th anniversary of Salmon Poetry and the publisher plans to run a series of events, along with its publishing programme, to celebrate the milestone.

Chairman of the Arts Council, Pat Moylan said, “We are delighted to be able to continue supporting and developing the arts in Clare. For over 60 years, the Arts Council has been at the forefront of developing and promoting the arts and even with reduced funding, the Arts Council continues to build a central place for the arts in Irish life.

“Although funding to the arts has been cut by around 30% since 2008, we recognise that the work of the Arts Council produces an important social dividend that positively impacts on the quality of life of citizens across the country. Not only this but the arts play a vital role in our economy, especially in job creation and tourism. Therefore, we see it as vital to areas such as Clare and other areas across the country that support for the arts is maintained.

“As the year progresses, we will be announcing further funding to individual artists and to groups undertaking projects, festivals and other events.”