Mayo to benefit from Arts Council investment of more than €310k

THE Arts Council - the government agency for leading the development of the arts in Ireland - has today announced funding of €314,500 for Mayo in 2017.

The Linenhall in Castlebar (€193,500), Ballinglen Arts Foundation (€56,000) in Ballycastle, Ballina Arts Centre (€50,000) and the Achill Heinrich Böll Association (€15,000) are the four local centres and organisations that have been awarded funding by the arts agency.

Today’s announcement forms part of the Arts Council’s planned investment of €65.1 million for 2017, which will see people across Ireland engage with the arts in exciting and innovative ways. The investment represents an increase of €5 million, or 8.3%, on the 2016 amount.

Arts Council chairperson Sheila Pratschke said: “Our strategy prioritises the artist and public engagement, and our decisions for 2017 focus on small festivals, individual and emerging artists, community-based practice and work with and for children and young people. This means more great work will be made by artists and arts organisations for people in every part of the country.”