The Galway City Council has been given the green light for the pay out of arts grants totalling €425,000.
The grants provide funding towards contemporary arts programmes in 2020 by professional, amateur, and voluntary arts programmes based in the city as well as fostering and developing the practice in all contemporary art forms of individual creative artists resident in the city.
Of the 78 applications from various organisations in the arts community, 65 will receive some amount of funding with the Galway International Arts Festival, the Galway Arts Centre, and the Druid Theatre the biggest beneficiaries receiving €46,000, €35,000, and €29,000 respectively.
Arts officer at the Galway City Council, James Harrold, told members at the local authority’s ordinary meeting at Leisureland on Monday afternoon the funding sent a message that Galway cared about arts and culture.
He said; “This is now a world city of culture. It can’t be taken away from us that Galway’s name is out there. Pandemics may come and go, but Galway is there.
“It is important for business of the arts, that Galway arts organisations do so brilliantly. We have a duty of care particularly for small organisations in the community. This [funding] will brighten up the professionals, staff, and volunteers [of these organisations].
“[The funding] will make a big difference and will send a message that Galway cares about arts and culture.”
Councillors warmly welcomed the funding with Fianna Fáil councillor Alan Cheevers saying the funding was badly needed for arts in the city and Fine Gael councillor Clodagh Higgins stating the funding was needed in order to retain the artists in Galway.
