Call for cultural supremo to boost arts access
Dublin city needs a cultural supremo to ensure its citizens experience the arts, it was claimed today.
Dermot McLaughlin, of Temple Bar Cultural Trust (TBCT), said there were many barriers facing people who want to enjoy the capital’s culture life.
Mr McLaughlin asked if citizens were fully able to enjoy the benefits of Dublin’s rich cultural infrastructure, which he said cost taxpayers over €140m a year, and if the city knew how to prosper from the talent and creativity in its cultural communities.
The trust will hold a culture and the city conference examining these issues in the National Gallery of Ireland on Tuesday.
National and European experts on culture will speak at the event.
“Dublin needs a cultural supremo to ensure the city and its citizens get a better deal when it comes to culture and the arts,” said Mr McLaughlin.
“There are many barriers facing people who want to enjoy and participate in Dublin’s cultural life despite the huge public investment of €140m in culture and the arts here in Dublin.”
Research from TBCT’s Culture Night shows people are curious, willing and committed to visiting cultural centres.
“People will get involved in culture and the arts if they get good information, if opening hours are more sensible and if we had a clear policy to encourage cultural organisations to combat cultural exclusion, then things would be even better,” added Mr McLaughlin.
“In the absence of clear national policies to promote cultural inclusion, it is hard to see how cultural organisations can be expected individually to address a chronic national policy deficit that is bad news for citizens.”
