An Cúigiú Tuarascáil Bhliantúil is Fiche, maille le Cuntais don bhliain dar chríoch 31ú Nollaig 1976. Tíolacadh don Rialtas agus leagadh faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas de bhuo Altanna 6 [3] agus 7 [1] den Acht Ealaíon 1951. Twenty-fifth Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st December 1976. Presented to the Government and laid before each House of the Oireachtas pursuant to Sections 6 [3] and 7[1] of the Arts Act, 1951 Cover: Front Robert Ballagh "Sheridan Le Fanu" (1814-1873) commissioned, for the Council's offices in Merrion Square, where the writer lived. Members Patrick J. Rock, Chairman Kathleen Barrington John Behan Brian Boydell Tom Caldwell Máire de Paor Andrew Devane Eilís Dillon Séamus Heaney Dr J.B. Keamey Patsy Lawlor Hugh Maguire Sean Ó Tuama Brian Quinn Richard Stokes Dr T.J. Walsh James White Staff Director Colm Ó Briain Administration Officer David McConnell Literature and Film Officer David Collins Music Officer Dinah Molloy Visual Arts Officer Paula McCarthy Secretarial Assistants Veronica Barker Kathryn Cahille Patricia Molloy 70 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. An Chomhaırle Ealaíon An Chomhairle Ealaíon was set up by the Arts Acts 1951 and 1973 and consists of a chairman and not more than sixteen other members appointed by the Taoiseach. The present Council was appointed on 31st December 1973 and its term of office expires in 1978. The principal role of the Council is to stimulate public interest in the arts; to promote the knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts; and to assist in improving the standards of the arts. The Council also acts as an adviser on artistic matters to the Government and Government Departments and is one of the four bodies which have a statutory duty to make representations to local authorities in connection with applications for planning permission in areas of special amenity throughout the country. The Council receives an annual grant-in-aid from the Oireachtas. In the Arts Acts, the expression 'the arts' means painting, sculpture, architecture, music, drama, cinema, literature, design in industry, and the fine arts and applied arts generally. Chairman's Introduction Achievement has been the key note of the Arts Council's activities during IS'76. There have been particular achievements in the fields of film, exhibitions, bursaries and publications, but the most significant achievement has been survival. In the face of severe inflation many arts organisations have been placed in jeopardy. Ticket prices are now notoriously sensitive to any increase; a fall-off in attendance being the nett result rather than an increase in revenue. In all arts organisations, overall costs have been rising, but earned revenue has remained almost static. Because of this the State subvention is required to increase at a rate substantially higher than the inflation rate. To get an increase in state funds in line with inflation was a major achievement in 1976 when many other organisations had to settle for less. But the fact remains that substantially higher grants are required if the arts in Ireland are to survive and grow in any credible form. The growing gap between income and expenditure is a great threat to the arts in Ireland and survival has been bought at a heavy price — reduction in activities, a real danger of decline in standards and, most dangerous of all, an increased reliance on borrowed funds. A matter of great concern is the total accumulated deficit being borne by arts activities for which the state has a responsibility. This deficit exceeded £¼ million at the end of 1976. Almost all of this amount is financed by borrowing. This precarious situation means in fact that the arts in Ireland are living beyond their means, and for one reason only — the resources available through the Arts Council are seriously inadequate for the work in hand. No fund exists through which capital expenditure in the arts can be financed The Arts Council is therefore impotent in the provision of buildings and equipment or their replacement following inevitable deterioration. This is highlighted by the fact that the funds which were paid through the Arts Council towards the renovation of the Olympia Theatre were provided, not by the Arts Council, but by Dublin County Council. The arts now require an urgent commitment from the Government, that over the next three years sufficient funds will be made available to eliminate the high level of present borrowing and to secure proper development in the future. We have submitted the relevant proposals to the Taoiseach to whom we report. In September the Council held a two day meeting at Avondale, Co. Wicklow, which was devoted to examining Council policy both in the short-term and in the long-term. Priorities were established for 1977, in the context of outline developments which might be pursued through into 1980. As a direct consequence of these discussions, the Council has initiated several projects in addition to the work directly involved in the allocation of grants. Although, as this Report indicates, the number of grants being made by the Council is increasing, so too is the number of refusals and at a faster rate. The heavy programme on which the Council is now engaged is far too great for the Council's Email staff of five executives. It has to be admitted that Government policy in relation to the creation of new posts in the public sector has severely hampered the development of the Council. If the Council is to discharge its legal responsibility fully and properly, it must have the specialist staff to carry out the work. With a mere 6% of expenditure in 1976 being spent on Administration, the Council cannot be accused of channelling scarce resources into a wasteful bureaucracy. The publication of this report, so late in the year, reflects the heavy work load of the Council. There have been many other priorities clamouring for our attention and demanding that our energies be devoted to them. One of the ways in which this has been made possible has been the deferral of this Report. Now that it is available, my colleagues and I on the Council believe that it presents an important record of what has been achieved, in spite of many difficulties. Thanks for these achievements are due to many people; my colleagues on the Council who give, on a voluntary basis, so generously of their time and efforts; the Director and the staff of the Council who of the Council, who have stretched themselves far beyond reasonable limits; the Taoiseach, Mr Liam Cosgrave, T.D. whose support of our efforts during 1976 was particularly valuable given the difficult economic circumstances; the Secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach, Mr Dan O'Sullivan and Mr Richard Stokes, Principal Officer, Department of the Taoiseach and a Member of the Council, whose guidance and advice is very much appreciated. Patrick J. Rock October 1977. Report Provision for the individual writer, artist, and musician was identified as a major priority for the Council in 1976. Following on the Bursaries for Creative Writers, introduced in 1975, a programme of scholarships and awards in music and the visual arts was initiated during the year. The only major previous award in the visual arts, with which the Council has been associated, is the Macaulay Fellowship in painting and sculpture. It was therefore decided to establish a scheme of awards which would enable artists to undertake special projects, develop specialist skills, acquire materials and equipment, improve studio facilities and also carry out research. The Council had previously made funds available to the Music Association of Ireland to provide a number of small scholarships. As a result of the significantly larger amount being allocated, the Council was able to expand the scheme which the Music Association of Ireland had established. This included the provision, for the first time, of two three-year scholarships. It was felt that the establishment of a Film Script Award was probably the best method of giving assistance to film production in the short term. The Council was very pleased that its proposal that RTE should join with it in the creation of this award was accepted, thus making a fairly significant amount of money available to the film maker. In addition, the National Finn Studios of Ireland agreed to participate in the award by providing facilities for the production of the award winning film script. The collaboration of RTE, the National Film Studios and the Council in this matter is regarded as one of the most important measures ever taken in this country for encouraging the independent film-maker. Even though the creation of these awards marks a significant advance for the Council, it is recognised that there is still little or no direct provision for individuals engaged in the theatre or in dance. Special provision also needs to be made to encourage musical composition. The correction of these omissions is a priority for the future. During the year the Council gave considerable attention to the question of the arts in the education system. It was agreed that much needs to be done in this area and the early appointment of an Education Officer on the Council's staff was decided upon. However, this development has been delayed due to the difficulties (outlined by the Chairman in his Introduction) in relation to the recruitment of staff. Immediately following the Council's discussion of educational priorities, a controversy occurred over the status of music as a subject in the Leaving Certificate. Proposals which discriminated against music as a subject for university matriculation were having a serious effect on the number of students opting for music.