Dear ,

Earlier this month, as part of our local election campaign, we commissioned leading research company Red C to research public opinion on funding of the arts by local authorities. The results are now in and we are delighted to share them with you.  You can read the findings here.

RedC’s nationally representative survey reveals that 63% of the public believe that local authorities should provide financial support to fund the arts.

The survey also found that over 50% of those who endorse funding by local authorities, believe that the level of support provided should exceed 50 cents per person per week.  And 1 in 5 people believe that the arts should be funded by more than €1.

The great news for us in the NCFA  is that the public clearly support our call for sustained and increased funding for the arts at a local level.

Statistics from the Central Statistics Office and the Arts Council show that the current average spend on the arts per person per week is just 13 cents, and in some areas local authorities are investing less than 3 cents per person per week.  This is significantly less than the 50 cents per week endorsed by the public.

The NCFA has also found that there has been a steady decline in local authority investment in the arts over the past few years. Since 2010, the overall percentage decline in Local Authority arts spending is 19%.

Buoyed by these findings we must continue our campaign with gusto and ensure that the incoming local councillors value the arts and artists and recognise their place animating, enabling, inspiring, delighting and enriching communities all over Ireland.  You can email your local election candidates here.

Regards,

Valerie Connor
(Chair)

The NCFA RedC survey on funding of the arts by local authorities was financially supported by Senator Fiach MacConghail, a member of Seanad Éireann.