Today, the Arts Council launched its new Equality, Human Rights and Diversity Policy, at an event in Galway. The policy, developed in the context of Ireland’s contemporary diverse society, was launched by Rory O’Neill at the Pálás Cinema in Galway alongside Arts Council Director Orlaith McBride.
Driven by the desire of the Arts Council to show leadership and bring about change in Ireland, the policy aims to ensure that everyone who lives in Ireland has the opportunity to engage with, and participate in the arts.
Arts Council Orlaith McBride said;
“The arts in Ireland are for and about everyone in Ireland - as with the theme of our Places Matter conference tomorrow, building inclusion in arts - this is about inclusivity and diversity for artists but critically also for audiences and participants - that everyone living here should feel a sense of ownership in what is publicly funded, that the art they encounter is relevant to contemporary society and its people, and above all, that this is a fundamental human right.”
The Arts Council’s 10-year strategy ‘Making Great Art Work’ is focussed on ensuring that public investment in the arts reaches and benefits all sectors of society. The Arts Council works with arts organisations to help inspire and encourage that programming and projects are relevant for all members of society irrespective of origin, place of residence, religious beliefs, economic or social background.
Orlaith continued;
“We believe change needs to happen at all levels, throughout the wider arts sector in Ireland today, and we recognise that that change needs to start with us as an institution. To demonstrate that, alongside this policy, we are publishing an initial three-year action plan, many of whose actions are focused on the changes we can make in who we are, what we do and how we do it.”
The Arts Council will continue the conversation tomorrow at their Places Matter conference which takes place in the Bailey Allen Hall at NUIG.
For more information see http://www.artscouncil.ie/Arts-in-Ireland/Local-Arts/Places-Matter-Conference-2019/
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