Theatres and arts centres join campaign to #SaveTheArts

Theatres and arts centres across the country have come together to show support for the recently published National Arts Recovery Plan and the #SaveTheArts campaign.

Locally, the director of Ballina Arts Centre (pictured), Sean Walsh, explained how, along with Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar, they are standing together with the NCFA, venues around Ireland, and artists and arts workers at this difficult time to ensure the survival of the sector.

“Before and during this pandemic, it is the arts that have kept us company, been an escape, a voice, a release, a hope,” said Sean. “As the country emerges from the pandemic and businesses attempt to return to trading or pivot to alternative offerings in a physically limited new world, the arts and culture sector will be the very last to recover in any meaningful way. Artists, arts workers and arts organisations need the support of the public now.

“Venues are more than walls – we are teams of professional, experienced people dedicated to supporting artists and audiences, and we are working hard right now to create plans for a reimagined future in which we can support our artists to the best of our ability and enrich our communities creatively.

“We look forward to welcoming our customers back into our venues to enjoy all that the arts have to offer, and we are working hard to make our venues safe in order to be able to do so. How we will address the severe challenges posed by social distancing and huge losses in revenue will require close collaboration with our artists, arts workers and audiences, as well as the Arts Council, local authorities and government partners.”

The National Arts Recovery Plan outlines comprehensively the challenges facing the sector and presents a plan for the its survival and recovery to ensure that it can contribute to Ireland’s economic and societal recovery, and continue to enrich all of our lives.

Mr. Walsh added that at Ballina Arts Centre – which recently hosted a socially-distanced meeting of Ballina Municipal District – they are asking customers and the general public for their support to help give the arts a voice with these three actions:

- Tell your TD how important the arts are to you

- If you enjoy the arts, add your voice to the campaign by sharing the #SaveTheArts video on social media

- Talk to your friends and family about how important the arts are to you and ask them to do points one and two above