Arts Council informs traditional artists of support available

28/11/2006

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland reaffirmed its support for the traditional arts at the An Cruinniú traditional arts conference in the Glór Irish Music Centre in Ennis, Co Claire last week. The theme of the conference was ‘Making a living in the traditional arts’. Paul Flynn, Traditional Arts Officer at the Arts Council used the conference as a platform to inform traditional artists of the funding and support available to them from the Arts Council.

The conference brought together well-known performers and some of the most influential and informative practitioners in the traditional arts world. The emphasis was on providing delegates with a rounded insight into what it takes to succeed in this field.

At the conference, Paul Flynn stressed, “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has had a dedicated traditional arts officer for over 25 years, and at the moment we are urging more individual artists to apply to the Arts Council for support. We want to let traditional musicians know that there is money available to help them start up, buy new instruments and to travel to events like this.”

The Arts Council funds a wide range of activities aimed at raising awareness, promoting critical debate and increasing community participation in the traditional arts. It welcomes applications from individuals seeking to develop their artistic and professional practice through its ‘Support for the Individual Artist’ programme.

Click on the link below to listen to a radio interview at the traditional arts conference, where Katie Verling, Director of Glór, discusses the centre and its work, while Liz Doherty of An Chomairle Ealaíonn and Paul Flynn from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland discuss funding for the traditional arts. http://www.rte.ie/arts/theeleventhhour/20061109_theeleventhhour.html