merrion street

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·Arts education will be major focus of 2013 scheme

· 2012 scheme exceeds targets, generates €4.26 in private funding for every €1 invested by the taxpayer

Wednesday, 13 March

In 2012, Minister Deenihan launched a Philanthropy Initiative to provide an incentive to arts organisations to proactively seek new and multi-annual relationships with sponsors which would deliver more private sector funding for the arts. Taxpayer funding was made available for organisations that could match this with funding from the private sector.

This year, €210,000 will be available to arts organisations under the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht's Philanthropy Initiative. Under the terms of the scheme, arts and culture organisations can apply to the Philanthropy Initiative for funding if they can augment the amount with private fundraising in the following ratios:

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For 2013 the majority of the Philanthropy Initiative funding is being directed towards arts and culture organisations that are looking for support for projects that include an education component. This is to support the Arts in Education Charter, launched recently by Minister Deenihan and Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn TD, which sets out a range of actions now being progressed by both Departments, cultural institutions and arts organisations to increase arts education for children and young people.

Minister Deenihan commented:

"The 2012 Philanthropy Initiative exceeded all expectations and gives an example of how the careful targeting of taxpayer funding can produce very good value for money. The arts got a boost of over €1 million last year, of which less than one-fifth came from the public purse.

"I wish to reiterate the importance of the Philanthropy Initiative and wish to renew my invitation to arts organisations to apply for this scheme with the aim of securing private sector financial support thereby increasing overall funding available to the arts.

"One of my policy aims is to increase Arts in Education. This year, I hope that the Philanthropy Initiative, while continuing to provide an incentive to arts organisations to engage in fundraising, will also get arts and culture organisations engaging creatively with children and young people and adding to their education. In doing so, they will be helping to foster the artists - and the audiences - of the future."

The Philanthropy Initiative was introduced in 2012 by Minister Deenihan as part of a significant policy push to increase private sector support for arts and culture. It was hoped that for every €1 of public money invested, private sector funds of €2.50 could be generated. At the end of 2012 the scheme was reviewed. The results indicated that the 2012 scheme was a considerable success and exceeded targets by unlocking 70% more private sector funding than had been targeted.

In 2012 a total of 31 arts and culture organisations were paid €202,000 in grants under the initiative. This was matched with fundraising from private sources totalling €863,000. Every €1 of taxpayer funds was matched by €4.26 from the private sector, meaning the State's investment of €202,000 generated total additional funding of over €1 million for the arts in 2012.

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Note to Editors:

Projects that benefitted from the Philanthropy Initiative in 2012 included the Limerick Corridor Art Programme, Temple Bar Gallery, The Butler Gallery, IMMA, the Dublin Theatre Festival, Boston College, and the GAZE Film Festival.

The application form is available on the Department's website and applications are dealt with on a first-come-first-served basis. The application form includes a provision that in the event of multiple applications competing for a limited grant allocation, priority will be given to Arts in Education projects aimed at disadvantaged (DEIS) schools.