An Chomhairle Ealaíon An CeathrúTuarascáil Bhliantúil is Fiche, maille le Cuntais don bhliain dar chríoch 31ú Nollaig 1975. Tiolacadh don Rialtas agus leagadh faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas de bhun Altanna 6 [3] agus 7 [1] den Acht Ealaíon, 1951. Twenty-fourth Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st December 1975. 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. An Chomhairle Ealaíon Members Patrick J. Rock, Chairman Kathleen Barrington John Behan Brian Boydell Tom Caldwell Máire de Paor Andrew Devane Séamus Heaney Dr J. B. Kearney Patsy Lawlor Hugh Maguire Eilís; Dillon Seán 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 Chomhairle 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 1975 was an extremely significant year for the Arts Council. It saw the appointment of a full-time Director, Colm Ó Briain, in accordance with the 1973 Arts Act. This was followed later by the appointment of a Visual Arts Officer, Literature7Film Officer and a Music Officer. These developments meant that at the end of the year the Council was in a better position to discharge its existing responsibilities and to take on increased responsibilities. The year also provided firm evidence of the Government's desire to see the Council play a fuller role in the national development of all the arts. On 19th December the Minister for Finance announced that he was transferring responsibility for the Abbey Theatre, the Gate Theatre, the Irish Theatre Company, the Irish Ballet Company and the Dublin Theatre Festival to the Council from his Department. The Council welcomes this transfer of responsibility and pledges itself to serve the best interests of its associates. The coming year will see the development of closer and more valuable links between the Council and all the bodies who are involved in the arts in Ireland. The spirit that will pervade these closer associations will be one of co-operation, consultation and collaboration, on the understanding that we are all using scarce resources to achieve the same end. It is worth emphasising at this juncture that the Council is very conscious of the immense contribution made by voluntary organisations in ensuring the survival and development of many art forms and it will do everything possible to ensure that such organisations continue to thrive in the future. Broadly speaking, our responsibilities are twofold. We have an obligation to our artists to ensure that proper facilities exist for training, exhibition and performance; and we have an obligation to the public, both children and adults, to ensure that they are provided with a wider and deeper appreciation of the arts. Furthermore, we have an obligation to both artists and public to see that adequate facilities exist, especially at regional level, to enable all to participate meaningfully in arts activities. Although we had a welcome increase in our state grant for 1975 from £113,000 to £200,000 we are still operating from a very tiny base. We have had to turn down many worthy applications for assistance, and in the current economic situation it is difficult to see how we can play a significant role, especially in stimulating regional development - unless there is a considerable shift in public opinion towards the arts. Such a shift would have to be accompanied by a preparedness to pay both at central level through taxation and at local level by earmarking a portion of the rates revenue. We are confident that the benefits resulting from such a move would be in the interests, not only of this generation, but of future generations as well. During the year the Council lost its Chairman, Professor Geoffrey Hand, to the European University in Florence. His keen mind and generous outlook is a real loss. but he will be remembered for guiding the present Council from its inception in 1973 to its high level of motivation in 1975. The year also saw the departure of our colleague, John B. Keane. During his all too short period with us he left a profound impression on his colleagues and he will be genuinely missed. We thank both Geoffrey and John B. and wish them well. The saddest event for the Council in 1975 was the death of our colleague, Séamus Murphy. No brief reference in an annual report could hope to do justice to the memory of one of Ireland's greatest sculptors. We were grateful that he could be with us for a short while in person - we know that his memory and his achievements will be with us forever. The two vacancies on the Council were filled by the Taoiseach's appointment of J.B. Kearney and Hugh Maguire and we are already richer for their presence. I, myself, had the privilege of succeeding Professor Hand as Chairman. I should like to thank every member of the Council for their voluntary, generous and diligent efforts on behalf of the arts in Ireland. I should also like to thank the Director, and the young team that now constitute the Council's staff, for their responsible and dedicated work. A special word of thanks to the Taoiseach, Mr Liam Cosgrave T.D., whose interest in our affairs is a source of constant encouragement. I should also like to thank the Secretary of his Department, Mr Don O' Sullivan, and Mr Richard Stokes, Principal Officer, Department of the Taoiseach and member of the Council, for his invaluable advice and assistance in our endeavours. Patrick J. Rock Report The new policies of the Arts Council began to take shape during the year. After the Director took up office at the beginning of March, the Council made an examination of the staffing arrangements and drew up a comprehensive development plan for an increase in its staff to service various specialised areas in the coming years. It was decided to create three posts initially. Appointments were mode in December. The new Officers are David Collins who joined the Council as Literature/Film Officer from the National Library where he was Assistant Keeper; Dinah Molloy, an accomplished musician and compiler of the very successful reference book "Find Your Music", who became Music Officer; and Paula McCarthy, a graduate in the history of art working at the Wexford Arts Centre, who took up the position of Visual Arts Officer. In April, Mervyn Wall retired. He had served the Council as Secretary for eighteen years. A tribute was paid by Seán Ó Faolain to the unique contribution Mervyn Wall had made during those years to the development of the arts in Ireland, at a special presentation by Council Members post and present, with whom he had worked. The Council wishes him well in his retirement and hopes to see in his future novels continued evidence of his compassion, wit and intelligence. The Council's Exhibitions Officer, Oliver Dowling, resigned during the Summer in order to set up a private gallery. The Council wishes him every success in his new venture and is happy to know that his knowledge and expertise can be availed of by the Council in the future. While all these changes were taking place, the research for a Report commissioned jointly by the Council and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation was being completed. Millicent Bowerman had concluded her investigations throughout the country and Sir James Richards had begun to write the Report. which was published in January 1976. Since it refers by and large to artistic activities that were taking place in 1975, it is proper to consider it here. The comprehensive information and the large number of recommendations it contains provide an important basis for the Council to prepare plans for growth and development, and for that reason it is presented formally to the Government as an appendix to this Report. Although the Report was prepared for the Council and the Gulbenkian Foundation it should be stressed that the research was completely independent of both bodies. Sir James Richards is Editorial Director of "European Heritage" and a Member of the Fine Arts Committee of the Institute of Contemporary Art. He was editor of "The Architectural Review from 1937 to 1971. Millicent Bowerman was formerly Deputy-Director of the Greater London Arts Association. The Council owes a deep debt of gratitude to Sir James for his work on the Report and particularly to Millicent Bowerman who combined her role of investigator with that of an ambassador of goodwill on behalf of the Council.