THE ARTS are the lifeblood of Galway city, they are vital to our reputation; they attract tourists and new residents; they are an essential part of many businesses in the city centre; and the arts are a key contributor to the Galway economy, bringing in millions each year.
Without the arts, Galway is diminished - socially, economically, and in terms of the joy they bring individuals and communities.“Galway wouldn’t be galway it is if it weren’t for the arts,” says theatre maker and singer Orlagh De Bhaldraithe, “and it’s artists, engineers, riggers, lightening designers, makers, producers of all the incredible art that happens in Galway on a year round basis. The arts should be one of the central components around which we rebuild.”
While all sections of society have been affected negatively by Covid-19, most sectors are now returning to or resuming work. However this is not the case with the arts, where social distancing and the undesirability of crowds gathering means theatres, concerts, comedy, dance performances, outdoor spectacles, exhibitions, and festivals cannot take place. The impact on artists has been immense - and it directly affects their ability to earn a living.
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“It was devastating to realise all upcoming projects would need to be abandoned and that income had evaporated, it was very scary,” says actor, musician, writer, Little John Nee [pictutred above], recalling the immediate impact of lockdown. “I began to livestream from my garage and was very fortunate I received support from online audiences and from two venues. In general it’s been catastrophic for the artistic community and we have a long road ahead; it feels like our troubles may only be starting.”
'An arts sector unable to perform has a major impact on the economy'
For visual artist Cecilia Danell, the situation has been challenging, both creatively and financially. “The lockdown meant two solo exhibitions postponed, visiting lecturing days cancelled, and a loss of income from projected art sales. I also had no access to my studio. I ended up doing some drawing at home, and although that passed the time, it was in no way a substitute for my normal working environment.”
A quadruple loss
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For Galway, the impact of Covid-19 has resulted in a quadruple loss: no entertainment is a loss for the spirit and the well-being of all Galwegians; there is a knock-on affect on businesses - people not going out to shows are not going out to pubs and restaurants; tourists are attracted to the Galway International Arts Festival, etc, but tourism has dried up due to Covid-19; and an arts sector unable to perform has a major impact on the economy. Festivals bring people to and keep them in the city, and spending money with local businesses.
'With an uncertain future ahead, the arts will be fundamental to giving hope and integrity back to the city' - Róisín Stack
In 2018, the Galway International Arts Festival attendance was 252,748 and generated €40.8 million for the Galway economy. The 2019 Galway Film Fleadh saw attendances of c20,000 and generated c€7.5 million for the local economy. The 2019 Vodafone Comedy Carnival Galway brough 10,000 people to the city and generated at least €5 million for the local economy. This is vital revenue that Galway will not have this year. Let no one ever say the arts does not play a key role in the economy of this city.
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As theatre maker and chair of the independent collective Theatre57, Róisín Stack [pictured above], tells the Advertiser: “A pivotal role the arts play is in community. The arts bring people together and stimulate conversation, celebration, and collective engagement. As we see shops shutting down and an uncertain future ahead, the arts will be fundamental to giving hope and integrity back to the city.”
NCFA plan for the arts
In May, the National Campaign for the Arts - a volunteer-led, grassroots movement which works “to ensure the arts are on local and national government agendas and are recognised as a vital part of contemporary Irish life” - published a 13 point plan outlining how the arts could survive, and where arts practitioners and creatives could continue to earn a living, despite the enormous challenges of a post-Covid-19 society.
It is a call strongly supported by Galway artists and creatives.In a recent article, Stephen Fry called this “a very dark time for the performing arts” and feared it could be April 2021 before theatres, etc, are open again. According to the NCFA 19,000 days of paid work for freelance artists and art workers were lost in the State to the end of April 2020, and a potential income of €6.4 million was lost from cancelled activities by the end of May 2020. Also worth noting is that the NCFA Survey 2020 found 72 per cent of artists working in Ireland earned less than the National Minimum Wage before Covid-19.
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The NCFA plan calls for adedicated capital scheme for arts centres, venues, etc, to ensure the creation of safe spaces for artists, staff, and audiences; and for council rates to be cancelled pro rata for any buildings used for mass gatherings, until mass gatherings are permitted again.It calls for the extension of the COVID Wage Subsidy scheme to arts organisations and for the extension ofthe Pandemic Unemployment Paymentfor freelance artists and arts workers, until it is financially and logistically viable for events to take place again.
The plan seeks increased investment in the Arts Council, and supporting the council to give increases to project awards, commissions, and bursaries; for the Arts Council to streamline and simplify grant applications for 2021; and for the Arts Council and Government to guarantee funding in 2021.
'There needs to be long term basic payments to artists so they have the same securities and access to affordable housing and other basic needs, the same as workers in other industries' - Orlagh De Bhaldraithe
It calls on the Government to ensure “an equitable portion of the European Commission’s structural funding is committed to the arts”; appoint a full Minister for Culture in the next Cabinet with advisors from the arts sector; and for local authorities and the Arts Council to protect and sustain local authority-run venues throughout this crisis.
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It also calls on the Government to provide a clear roadmap for arts investment to ensure the pandemic does not deepen sectoral damage and that the State is brought closer to the EU average spend of 0.6 per cent of GDP on the arts and culture. It also calls for the introduction of a Universal Basic Income for all citizens.
As Orlagh De Bhaldraithe says: “There needs to be long term basic payments to artists so they have the same securities and access to affordable housing and other basic needs, the same as workers in other industries. We want equality, and some kind of a level playing field.”
A bit of good news?
While the new programme for Government does contain a section on supporting the arts, it says little about how to do so while the threat and impact of Covid-19 remains, bar establishing a cross departmental task force “to develop a clear approach...to protect and sustain the arts” and also to develop a stimulus package to support the sector “through Covid-19 and beyond”.
However, there was something of a win for the arts last week when the acting Minister for Culture, Josepha Madigan, announced extra funding of €25 million for the arts and culture sector.
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Cecilia Danell [pictured above] says the funding will “go some way in helping the arts through the rest of this year”, but longer term thinking is needed. “It is so important investment is kept into the future so all the hard-working individuals within their different fields of art practice can get a chance to thrive and make to the best of their abilities without being constantly hampered by financial difficulties.”
'It’s time Galway afforded artists some of the very basic amenities regarded as essential in most European countries - eg, a dedicated rehearsal space' - Little John Nee
Róisín Stack said it “returned some hope to the sector”, and noted that Theatre57 is working with venues across the city “to see how they can partner with artists when they open their doors. We’re making progress but it’s a long road ahead.”
Uncertainties remain
All this highlights how major questions remain as to how the arts can, not only be supported, but actually function and exist over the coming year. As a result, Galway artists are calling on the incoming administration to support and implement the NCFA recovery plan.
Little John describes the NCFA plan as “a gift to Government” as it is grounded in “an intricate knowledge” of the sector and is informed by the wider arts community. “It grasps the fundamental needs for the most basic survival of arts workers and organisations,” he says.
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Both Orlagh De Bhaldraithe [pictured above] and Cecilia Danell call the plan “extremely vital”. “It addresses most of the problems we face as an industry” says Orlagh, “and outlines measures that must be put in place to assist our recovery”. Róisín Stack says implementing the plan would go a long way “towards restoring the damage to the arts that has been wrecked by previous administrations”.
While the artists support all aspects of the plan, cultural infrastructure is a point that keeps coming up. “Artists can only work within their means,” says Little John. “It’s time Galway afforded artists some of the very basic amenities regarded as essential in most European countries - eg, a dedicated rehearsal space.”
“Infrastructure can't be overlooked,” says Cecilia. “Artists and arts workers are too used to having to make things happen under adverse circumstances, and with a lack of resources. So imagine what could be achieved if the infrastructure was in place to make things on a completely different level?”
