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The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD, has welcomed a new report from the special Advisory Group to the Arts Council, established to identify ways for the arts sector to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.

The Minister said:

I want to thank the Expert Advisory Group and all those from the arts and cultural sectors who contributed to this report. The Government recognises the huge impact the pandemic has had on the arts sector and, as importantly, the artists, arts practitioners and all those employed in these sectors. This report and the other work of the Arts Council has provided valuable guidance.

Since the start of the pandemic, we have engaged with the sectors, we have listened and the Government has responded with supports, including the extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, all underlined by this week’s very significant support package of €25 million. The report asks for an urgent response from the State and that is what we have come forward with.

She added, that

along with my Cabinet colleagues, I share a strong belief in the power of the arts and culture and their deep value to our lives. In spite of the enormous difficulties that the pandemic has created, there is a sustainable and exciting future for artists, arts practitioners and cultural workers and we are committed to supporting them and making this a reality.