Arts in focus at hustings
Candidates for Galway West were taken to task this week at a hustings organised by the National Campaign for the Arts – with the poor financial situation of many artists and the governance of arts organisations dominating discussions.
Six of the 15 candidates vying for votes in Saturday’s election turned up in a bid to win over the arts community – Joe Loughnane (PBP); Conor Burke (Solidarity); Niall Ó Tuathail (SD); Catherine Connolly TD (Ind); Cllr Pauline O’Reilly (Green); and Cllr Níall McNelis (Lab). Apologies were sent from Hildegarde Naughton TD (FG) and Éamon Ó Cuív TD (FF) sent a representative on his behalf.
Renowned writer and performer Little John Nee said while there was a reluctance to talk about poverty, many artists were well below the breadline and struggling to make a living – teetering on the brink of homelessness, having to survive on a poor diet, and their mental health was suffering as a result.
“It behoves [politicians] to speak out on behalf of poor artists,” he said, adding that artists were “ashamed” at earning less than €10,000 per year in many cases.
Deputy Catherine Connolly said the arts played a huge role in improving people’s happiness, pointing to a London School of Economics report which highlighted that four of the top six things that made people happy were arts related.
“I have no problem endorsing the message here today,” said Deputy Connolly. “Arts are a necessity, not a luxury”.
Cllr O’Reilly said good governance was key to ensuring the arts prospered. She raised concerns over the way in which an additional €2.5 million in Council funding had been sought for Galway 2020 last week – particularly as there had been no indication if this funding would go to artists directly.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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