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Irish Independent
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Kerry literary festival ‘deeply appreciates' €25,000 award funding
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Patrick O'Donovan, visited Listowel during the festival meet with organisers and festivalgoers at St John's Theatre for a special event. As part of his visit, Minister O'Donovan announced a funding award of €25,000 to Listowel Writers' Week in recognition of its enduring contribution to literature and community engagement. He said the Listowel Writers' Week team work seamlessly to combine local literary life with overseas writers of renown. The minister added that such a system succeeds in bringing people together to enjoy the written word in all its forms. 'I am always heartened by the level of community participation and support involved in making this event happen on the ground, and I commend all those involved,' said Minister O'Donovan. The Chairman of Listowel Writers' Week Ned O'Sullivan warmly welcomed the minister's remarks and financial support, adding that the organisers of Ireland's oldest festival are truly grateful for the ongoing support of Listowel Writers' Week. 'This magnificent funding award recognises the importance of our work. Minister O'Donovan's encouragement for the arts and engagement with communities like ours is deeply appreciated and helps sustain our efforts year after year,' he said. The 2025 Listowel Literary Festival was a collaborative initiative with Kerry Writers' Museum, and St John's Theatre & Arts Centre. The festival concluded on Sunday with the organisers satisfied that this year's festival was a huge success with numbers up on many events.
The Journal
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Minister backs keeping artists' Basic Income after report finds they feel happier and empowered
ARTS MINISTER PATRICK O'Donovan has backed retaining the Basic Income Scheme for artists. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has published a report into the scheme, where artists said the weekly stipend of €325 improved their mental health, made them feel more empowered and gave them much more stability in their life and work. With other benefits cited such as helping to gain artists more sustainable housing, to starting families and establishing pension schemes, the scheme has been loudly welcomed by arts groups. O'Donovan said that the research on a pilot of 2,000 artists shows that the impact of the Basic Income Scheme is 'far-ranging', affecting all aspects of recipients' lives. 'Artists are investing more time and more money into their practice, completing more new artistic output, experiencing reduced anxiety, and are protected from the precariousness of incomes in the sector to a greater degree than those who are not receiving the support,' the Fine Gael minister said. Arts Minister Patrick O'Donovan (centre) pictured with the National Campaign for the Arts steering group Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media The commissioned report collected and analysed the experiences of Basic Income for the Arts recipients. It found that providing a basic income for Ireland's artists has helped to achieve the original aums, by assisting in reducing anxiety around making ends meet while increasing time for recipients to pursue their work. Advertisement This increased time for creative pursuits has resulted in greater artist autonomy and better greater ability to plan and navigate their own creative path. Artists also reported that the scheme 'significantly impacts' feelings of financial uncertainty in their lives. As the pilot ends, it's important to hear from the artists themselves. I am struck by the stories collected in this report. This paper complements my Department's research to date which shows that the BIA payment is having a consistent, positive impact for those in receipt of it. In a statement today, O'Donovan said he had met with the National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA) last week to discuss the income scheme and was aware that there is broad sectoral support for it. Minister O'Donovan added 'I am heartened by the responses of the Basic Income recipients in this paper. This research will add to the evaluation being conducted by my Department, which to date clearly shows that the Basic Income Pilot has been an effective support for the artists in receipt of it. Per the Programme for Government I will evaluate the data from the pilot and then bring proposals to Government about next steps'. The National Campaign for the Arts committee said that it 'emphatically supports' the retention, extension and expansion of Basic Income for the Arts. Calling it a 'transformative policy', the group said it has helped to support artists to 'secure more sustainable housing, address health issues, start families and even establish pension schemes'. The National Campaign for the Arts said that the findings 'affirm what the arts sector has long known', namely, that the 'deep precarity of the arts requires sustained, courageous support—support that not only transforms the lives of artists, but also strengthens the society they help to shape'. The paper published today found that artists felt an importance of 'giving back' to their community and that the scheme had helped them to work on more projects within their locality. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
29-04-2025
- RTÉ News
Museum to return to St Stephen's Green after renovation work
The Little Museum of Dublin is to return to its home on St Stephen's Green after a €4.3 million renovation. The doors of the Georgian building are set to reopen in early June. The museum is currently in a temporary location on Pembroke Street, which will close on 25 May. The operators of the attraction said that its "historic townhouse has been transformed" and "visitors can look forward to expanded and reimagined exhibition spaces" as well as "an enriched collection of artefacts donated by the people of Dublin". The renovation work was part-funded by Fáilte Ireland, along with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Dublin City Council, and corporate and individual donors.
Irish Independent
29-04-2025
- Irish Independent
The Little Museum of Dublin to reopen on St Stephen's Green after €4.3m refit
The museum will close its current temporary location at 33 Pembroke Street on May 25 as they prepare to return to its restored Georgian home in the heart of Dublin, with doors scheduled to reopen to the public in early June. The museum's historic townhouse has been transformed, with exhibition spaces expanded and reimagined. There's also a new reception area, a new lift to improve accessibility, a sun-trap patio and an enriched collection of artefacts donated by the people of Dublin. There's also a new youth education space, upgraded exhibitions, and improved interpretation throughout. Since 2011, the Little Museum of Dublin has welcomed over one million visitors. It's ranked number 12 among Europe's top 25 five attractions on TripAdvisor, with the museum earning a reputation for immersive storytelling, theatrical flair, and hospitality. Despite operating from a temporary home on Pembroke Street for nearly a year, the museum retained its crown as the number one 'Thing to Do' in Dublin on TripAdvisor. The reimagining of the Little Museum of Dublin was part-funded by Fáilte Ireland, along with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Dublin City Council, corporate and individual funders. The museum will be open seven days a week from 9.30am to 5pm, offering guided tours every forty minutes. The walking tours include The Official Walk of Shame, The Football Walking Tour, The Freedom of Dublin and more. A new daily walking tour, The Little Walking Tour of St Stephen's Green, will take place each afternoon at 2.15pm.
