Galway’s six new TDs will be called on to support continued investment in the arts, at a special meeting next week with the city and county’s artistic community.
The meeting will take place with the three new Galway East TDs - Labour’s Colm Keaveney and Fine Gael’s Paul Connaughhton and Ciaron Cannon - and the three new Galway West TDs - Labour’s Derek Nolan and Fine Gael’s Brian Walsh and Sean Kyne - on Monday.
At the meeting artists will “engage the new TDs, inform and excite them about the arts in their constituency, and get them to commit to continued investment in the arts”.
The meeting is part of Meet and Greet, a nationwide event from the National Campaign for the Arts, which will see Irish artists (covering all areas of the arts ), hold meetings and engagements with the 76 new TDs in the State’s 43 constituencies.
At the meeting the Galway artists will emphasise the role of the arts as a local tourism driver; arts initiatives with young people/education; and arts initiatives addressing social inclusion.
“We also want to find out what area of the arts the TDs might be interested in and/or what their priorities are for the local area,” said a spokesperson for the National Campaign for the Arts. “We need to convey our willingness to work with them to effect change. We need to ask – how can we help?”
Galway West and East are looking for arts workers to attend meetings on Monday. Those interested should contact Kate (086 - 8456773 ), Maeve (086 - 3713388 ), or Mairead (085 - 1181332 ).
