August 2022 PRE BUDGET 2023 SUBMISSION
The National Campaign forthe Arts say it best in theirPre Budget Submission ‘Stand by the Arts’ when they say: ‘The arts help us to express our realities, our hopes and fears; they bring awareness, understanding and context to the world and its challenges. The arts bring communities together, fostering respect and understanding, breaking down cultural barriers, building trust and facilitating reconciliation. The arts demonstrate alternative ways of seeing and being, pose difficult questions, and offer innovative solutions. Our disabled artists and arts workers, and indeed all from marginalised communities who work in the arts, can provide a wealth of insight in times of crisis, informing healing, self-understanding, and the tools to overcome adversity. The arts call out indifference, ignorance, and extremism; they agitate, persuade, pressure and demand.’
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Proportion of Arts, entertainment and tourism jobs per county in 2019 (source: CSO, 2019, EY Analysis 2020)
(1) Employment and Economic Impact Assessment of Covid 19 by Ernst &Young
Therefore, we will not stand idly by; we call for support, for recognition, for trust in the value, the power, the need and the necessity for investment in the arts; as art by extension invests in communities, in individuals, in all generations and in our wider civic and economic society as we approach Budget 2023. Here follows the Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Networks ask towards the continued investment and development of these collective art forms for the benefit of every single member of Irish society.
Responsibility: Department ofTourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Department of Finance
1) Increase Arts Council funding to €150 million in 2023. Sustained and increased investment directly into the Arts Council is the most direct and effective way that the government can continue to develop and invest in robust, respected, autonomous artists and arts infrastructure for Ireland. ‘The Arts are essential to the development of other sectors of the economy, in particular tourism.’ The sector directly supports over 55,000 people in employment and contributes over €1.16bn in GVA. This investment makes good sense (1) .
Recent times have forced us to assess what really matters. Global crises gnaw at every corner of humanity. We ask -what can we do, how can we help, what can we contribute and how can we support change… change that is so urgently needed. Within all that difficulty and pressure, one might wonder what role can the arts play and how can we support them?
c)Increased Annual Grant Funding for artists and arts organisations developing work in these fields. In 2021 seven arts organisations received funding through this stream. We need to open this up a lot further to allow for meaningful progression.
e)Increasedparticular.mentoring
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a)Custom made infrastructure for circus and street arts creation
Amount of FUNDING requested for these Art Forms Number of APPLICATIONS received from
Art Forms TotalamountofApplicationsSuccessfulApplications TotalamountofApplicationsSuccessfulApplications TotalamountofApplicationsSuccessfulApplications €€1,168,40000 2,645,771.07 2019 2020 AwardedTotalamountRequested 2021 AwardedTotalamountRequestedAwardedTotalamountRequested €4,153,708.00 €6,508,399.00€2,987,621.00€1,985,178.00 0 1M 2M 3M 4M 5M 6M 7M 8M 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 81 34 184 125 281 141 Growth of ISACS Members 2013 201220142016201720182019 2020 2015 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 Individuals Organisations 10 8 23 39 68 77 20 15 20 26 33 Total 10 Total 28 Total 38 Total 59 Total 94 Total 110 90 39 Total 129 94 33 Total 127 111 45 Total 156 2021 165 53 Total 218 CSAS 2.987m Arts 2021FundingCouncil-130m
2) Increase the Arts Council investment in Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Art forms to bring the allocation to a minimum of €6million. The sector has expanded enormously in recent times, with the membership of the ISACS network growing by 23% in 2020 and a further 40% in 2021. In addition, the number of applications that the Arts Council received from this sector has grown by over 300% since 2019. This presents a real positive which can be taken from the pandemic; as artists and authorities became more aware of the possibilities of these particular artforms, and the need for investment in the skills, experience and opportunity that they bring, especially when presenting work in public space and engaging with broad and diverse audiences and publics. It is time to take advantage of this surge in interest, awareness and desire.
d)Increased bursary and agility awards for emerging and developing artists in and supports for artists in accessing and applying for funding streams.
The artists and arts organisations that work within this space now urgently need specific supports as follows:
Responsibility: The Arts Council of Ireland
b)Increased Strategic funding for more artistic organisations who support, develop and grow the grassroots circus and street arts community on a national level. Currently there are only five organisations in these art forms in receipt of strategic funding and it has been like this since the Strategic funding strand was created. If we want this sector to grow, then we need to actively support its growth.
Source of data: Arts Council of Ireland. The Arts Council's grant from the Irish Exchequer increased from €75 million in 2019, to €109 million in 2020 and €130 million in 2021. Arts Council of Ireland Funding for the Sector 2020 2021 these
2019
3) Continue to invest in research and policy development for the development of circus and street arts infrastructure, creation space & educational opportunities with a view to the provision of an updated Circus, Street Arts and Spectacle Policy to build on the CSAS Policy & Strategy 2018 and to ensure that these art forms are included in all arts policies going forward across all relevant state agencies.
c.Rapid consolidation of the Judicial Guidelines in the courts and transparency as to awards in cases where the Guidelines apply d.An acceleration of the work of the Insurance Competition Office at the Department of Finance to ensure the urgent entry of more underwriters into the Irish liability insurance market
Responsibility: Department of Finance, Department of Justice, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
4) Support the development of a Group Insurance Scheme to leverage accessible, appropriate and sustainable insurance product for the wider arts and entertainment sector to avail of. This may be a state scheme for organisations in receipt of state funding. This scheme should be particularly developed for niche sectors who currently do not have adequate mass buying power to leverage available product to purchase insurance. Insurance is particularly required for the circus education, training and street arts sector who cannot purchase insurance for any teaching activity which takes place over 1.5 metres.
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a.Enactment and commencement this year of duty of care amendments to the Occupiers Liability Act 1995
Responsibility: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media, Arts Council of Ireland, Culture Ireland and Creative Ireland
b.Enactment and commencement this year of the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill 2022
In addition, we endorse the call from the Alliance for Insurance Reform to ensure insurance reforms take place that will quickly reduce liability premiums to affordable levels and keep them that way. These reforms have been identified but they are not happening fast enough. We urge the government to ensure that sufficient funding is in place to allow for the following to happen:
6) Increase Culture Ireland funding by€6.5million. Irish arts play a vital role in Irelands international profile and relations across the globe as recognised in Global Ireland 2025. However, global events have increased the costs exponentially of conducting international work and it is imperative that these extra costs are met. Ireland has an immense opportunity to reposition itself as a crucial part of European culture connected and interwoven into the fabric of an international community. International connections and presentation of Irish artists’ work, as well as exchanges are essential. If we are aiming to encourage our artists to grow, flourish and prosper into the future and if we are going to reap the rewards, plaudits and acknowledgements that such work brings to our island nation, then we need to invest in same. The price of everything from a hotel room to a litre of petrol has gone up exponentially. In order to maintain our presence on an international stage, it is now vital that the supports increase to match the costs of same.
Responsibility: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media, Department of Finance
Responsibility: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, National Archives of Ireland, Heritage Council, Arts Council of Ireland, Department of Education, Department of Social Protection
4 5) In light of the recent addition of travelling circus and fairgrounds to Irelands living cultural heritage inventory, we ask that the state do two things:
A. Protect the past There is an important need for a national archive to be established which will caretake vital documents such as programmes, bills, newspaper clippings, photographs, equipment and more. This would be accessible to future academics interested in cultural, social and political issues and would grow an important element of research into this vastly under documented field.
B. Invest in the future – we ask that the State urgently reinstates a new Circus and Funfair Support scheme which provided access to education for travelling circus and fairground families. This scheme was terminated over 7 years ago and has never been replaced leaving these children and families severely disadvantaged in the modern world. If we are serious about protecting this vital part of our national heritage then we must not alone protect their past, we must invest in their future.
8) Continue and grow investment and supports in Youth and Social Circus.The role that circus plays in the development of physical, creative and emotional literacy skills is well documented and evidenced internationally. This has been acknowledged and recognised by various bodies which support creative youth programmes across Ireland. We therefore ask that this sector be prioritised through various Youth arts initiatives including, but not limited to, the Creative Ireland programme. We ask that the Creative Ireland programme be guaranteed funding at current levels to continue to deliver on its goals to connect people, creativity and wellbeing.
Responsibility: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Department of the Taoiseach, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 5
7) Increase access to the arts. Working in the arts is something that every citizen has the right to do, from all strands of society. However, when key social welfare supports are removed for those seeking to professionalise, it becomes a challenge, making the arts inaccessible to many. We endorse the NCFA call to make arts accessible to all from every marginalised or minority group within our society.
We particularly wish to emphasise the importance of including the many refugees who are seeking solace in our country currently and ask that an additional effort is made to connect, support and engage these citizens through the arts and as artists themselves. Art is for everyone to make, to enjoy and to work within, in a manner that is sustainable, achievable, and compatible with living.
Responsibility: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Department of Social Protection, Arts Council of Ireland
We
Responsibility: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Department of Rural and Community Development Enhance and extend the supports through Failte Ireland and the Arts Council of Ireland towards the development of festivals, artistic programming and artistic platforms for street and circus artists to develop the longevity of their work beyond a single season, expanding their market and building their business contacts. In particular, expand on partnerships with our European festival neighbours through programmes such as Creative Europe and more.
6 Circus Multidisciplinary Spectacle Street Arts ManagementAdmin/44Staff Professionals,Artists,467Practitioners FacilitatorsTeachersTrainers,122&28 210 83 24 5 10 131 90 36 5 7 4 andStudents11,835MembersUNDER18 andStudents8559MembersOVER185662 3761 845 1567 6843 732 145 839 Total21,027PeopleInvolvedinISACS 12,826 1092 4653 2456 10)
9) Create infrastructure for the arts and for artists to live and work in. The housing crisis has pushed many of Ireland’s artists into impossible living situations. ask that a mechanism be put in place for local government which ensures that a small percentage of all social and affordable housing be attributed for artists and arts workers, alongside studio/rehearsal space for creation. ask that the Dept of Finance develop new systems with existing financial institutions to deliver more flexibility for self-employed citizens in Ireland to access a fair mortgage to meet their needs and their means despite employment contracts or lack thereof. These two things will not only ensure that artists can sustain a reasonable living standard and have a place to create; but can share, live and engage in a diversity of communities around Ireland, contributing to building communities and connecting society.
Responsibility: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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Our Vision: To be a leading example of an artist first members network which supports and grows the street, circus and spectacle artforms of Ireland Location
About the Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network
of Members WATERFORD TIPPERARY WEXFORD WICKLOW KILDARE WESTMEATH LOUTH LIMERICK GALWAY CORK KERRY DUBLIN ANTRIM BELFAST 22 65 4 2 4 19 4 9 UK 7 BELGIUM MAYO CLARE SLIGO 3 2 2 CARLOW 1 LAOIS 5 OFFALY 3 KILKENNY 2 1 LONGFORD 1 LEITRIM 1 3CAVAN 1 MEATH 3 2 DONEGAL3 DERRY1 1 5 1 SLOVAKIA 1 CROATIA 1 ROMANIA 1 PALESTINE 1 GERMANY 1 SWITZERLAND 1 NETHERLANDS 2 SWEDEN 1 LEBANON ITALY 2 32 1
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The Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS) is a membership organisation which aims to support, encourage and empower these collective art forms. This we do through: building a strong, supportive, open network sharing information, resources and knowledge widely creating new opportunities for Irish artists at home and abroad representing and communicating on behalf of these art forms on various issues and multiple levels Today ISACS represents over 200 members with an increase in membership of 40% in 2021 and still growing. This network has become the “go-to” organisation for information, support, dialogue and exchange for the street arts, circus and spectacle art forms.
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ISACS is a vital part of major international networks and has fostered strong relationships with the Arts Council, Culture Ireland, Creative Ireland, local authorities and Irish and international festivals and networks.
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ISACS supports and endorses the Pre Budget Submission of the National Campaign for the Arts. http://ncfa.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NCFA-PBS-FINAL-2022-for-web.pdf
Ambition We laud ambitious actions and thinking; growing determined, proud, confident and resilient behaviour across and between our membership
Our
Care We value nurturing relationships, supporting our membership across a range of issues and strive for a genuinely inclusive community which connects and cares for each other and the development of the art forms
Encouragement We endeavour to encourage and empower our members in their journeys, their professional development and their creativity.
Grow our support to ISACS members to enhance their capacity to deliver high quality work and to sustain their livelihoods
Celebrate our Artforms sharing the history, value and potential of our work Advocate for the policy and practical changes that will enable a flourishing Street Art, Spectacle and Circus sector to thrive in Ireland
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Sustain our organisation through increased and diversified funding and enhanced human capacity
Integrity We are honest, trustworthy and open with our members, our Board, our team, our partners and our funders/stakeholders. We use our resources well, consider all viewpoints, offer solutions where we can and act with integrity.
Our Mission: Our mission is to celebrate our artforms, advocate for the policy and practical changes that will allow our artforms to flourish, grow our membership and sustain our organisation. Goals Values
Our
9 Reference Documents: Life Worth Living https://www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/Life_Worth_Living_Arts_and_Culture%20_Recovery_Taskforce(1).pdf Culture 2025 file:///C:/Users/ISACS/Downloads/94227_2cb625da-0887-492d-be64-b94f826df5b6.pdf Global Ireland file:///C:/Users/ISACS/Downloads/160718094402-7490182-global-ireland-master-draft-14-lowres.pdf Arts Council Equality, Human Rights and Diversity Policy & Strategy https://www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/EHRD%20Policy%20English%20version%20Final.pdf Employment and Economic Impact assessment of Covid 19 on the Arts sector in Ireland https://www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/Employment_and_Economic_Impact_Assessment_of_COVID-19_EY_Oct2020.pdf CSAS policy and strategy 2018 https://www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/CSAS_Policy_2018.pdf Survive, Adapt, Renew - Report of the expert advisory group June 2020 to the Arts Council 19%20crisis%20for%20the%20Arts%20in%20Ireland.pdfhttps://www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/Survive%20Adapt%20Renew_A%20response%20to%20the%20CovidThe future of the Creative Ireland Programme https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/app/uploads/2022/02/7873_CI-Report-2022-27_WEB_AW.pdf
Registered Office Address: c/o Block A, Spawell Centre Spawell Rd, Wexford, Y35 E2FK +353 (0) 87 ISACSNetworkinfo@isacs.ie0541812ISACSIrelandISACSIrelandISACSIreland Company registration no: 493045 CHY no. 22248 CRA: 20200598 www.isacs.ie 10 Photographer Credits: Deirdre Power, Liam Carroll, Cristian Fierro, Abigail Denniston, Circus Gerbola, Lucy Medlycott, Wobbly Circus,Jiale Mattews, Ste Murray, Niall Carson, Pflasterspektakel festival. Artists Featured: Lumen Street Theatre, Galway Community Circus, Gracie Marshall, Grant Goldie, Circus Gerbola, Laura Murphy Dance, Hannes Jung, Wobbly Circus,Jude Penders,Tumble Circus,Turas Theatre Collective, Fidget Feet Aerial Dance, Baubo Theatre, Duffys Circus, Hippana/Maleta. The Irish Street Arts, Circus & Spectacle Network is supported through:
