The Stage

Report reveals Irish arts sector is worth €782m a year

Published Friday 6 November 2009 at 12:38 by Anthony Garvey

The Irish arts sector in general is worth €782 million a year to the economy, provides 26,519 jobs and contributes €352 million in taxes, according to a report just published.

The report, prepared by economic consultants Indecon, was commissioned by the Irish Arts Council in the run-up to next month’s budget, when major cuts are feared in state support for the arts. Finance minister Brian Lenihan, grappling with the Republic’s worst economic crisis for decades, has already been advised, in the now infamous report by economist Colm McCarthy, that overall cultural funding should be slashed by €37 million, including a €6.1 million reduction in the Arts Council’s annual grant.

Economist Alan Gray, who wrote the Indecon report, takes a very different view. “While I do not believe that the arts should be evaluated solely on economic grounds,” he said, “it is clear that the sector is an important and labour intensive one, which makes a significant contribution to exchequer revenues.”

His report found that the Arts Council’s current state grant of €72 million supports more than 3,000 jobs and generates €192 million in turnover, with €54 million of the overall funding being returned directly to the exchequer in taxes.

Arts Council chairman Pat Moylan welcomed the report, describing it as “rigorous and evidence-based”. In a message directed at minister Lenihan and his government, she said: “At last we can back up what we have known by instinct: the Arts Council is making a a very significant contribution to the Irish economy, and can help to generate hundreds more jobs right now, for a proportionately small extra investment.

“Our artists and arts organisations stand ready to play their part in national recovery, in job creation, in boosting Ireland’s international reputation as a hub for creativity, innovation and investment and, of course, for cultural tourism.”