Welcome to our November newsletter.

In this month's newsletter we have details of the recently-published Indecon report on the economic impact of the arts in Ireland. This important assessment in an updated report and follows on from the 2009 findings.   This independent report shows "that the arts continue to be a major employer and contributor to Irish economic output." The Arts Council was delighted to welcome Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, to the Arts Council on 16 November, where he launched the report. The findings have been important to us in recent weeks, as we continue to make the case for funding the arts with Government.

We have news of an award made under the Artist in the Community Scheme and Visual Artists' Ireland, on behalf of the Arts Council, have announced grant allocations under the Visual Artists’ Workspace Scheme, an initiative which assists with the running costs of artists' studios and spaces.

The Arts Council provides Bursary awards in order to assist artists in the development of their arts practice. The first deadline for Bursaries for 2012 has been announced and it is the 19 January.

We have information about an exciting development for Galway Film Fleadh in our news from the arts community section and news also from the European Cultural Contact Point (CCP) Ireland, which is located in the Arts Council. There is information on opportunities for choreographers, either alone or with a collaborator from any artistic discipline and they are invited to submit proposals for a 4-week residency initiative supported under the EU Culture Programme.

Yours sincerely

Orlaith McBride

A report on the economic impact of the arts in Ireland shows that the arts provide significant direct and indirect employment, with Arts Council's annual funding from the Exchequer supporting over 2,600 jobs. The employment supported generates an annual turnover of €135 million with tax revenues (in the form of PAYE/income tax, PRSI and VAT), to the Irish Exchequer of €41 million. A report was compiled by Indecon International Economic Consultants.

Visual Artists Ireland, on behalf of the Arts Council, have announced the grant allocations under the Visual Artists’ Workspace Scheme for 2012. In keeping with the Council’s policy document Visual Artists’ Workspaces in Ireland - A New Approach, this scheme has the aim of assisting artists throughout the country. Grants of up to a maximum of €30,000 have been offered towards the running costs of visual artists’ workspaces.

The Arts Council provides Bursary Awards in order to assist individual artists in the development of their art practice. The award emphasises the value and benefit to an artist’s development that is derived from a focused period of engagement with their practice. The next closing date for Bursaries is 19 January 2012.

The Galway Film Fleadh has announced that it has been accepted as a qualifying festival in the Academy Awards® Short Film category. Out of 7,000 film festivals worldwide only 68 have Oscar-qualifying accreditation. We also include information on National | Dialogue Arts + Health, a one-day event on 6 December which aims to explore shared outlooks for arts and health practice in Ireland. There is a job opportunity at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght; work (tender) opportunities at the Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children and Dublin Institute of Technology has provided some information about a new BA in Visual and Critical Studies.

News from the Cultural Contact Point Ireland (CCP) this month includes: Choreographers, either alone or with a collaborator from any artistic discipline, are invited to submit proposals for a 4-week residency to work on an ongoing project, start a new project, or work with local artists supported under the EU Culture Programme. There is also detail about conferences in planning by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy on the topics of Crisis, Conflict and Culture: The Role of Cultural Diplomacy in the European Project and Cultural Diplomacy and International Relations and they are also inviting proposals. There is also information about European Training Sessions with the Musique & Santé organization.  Grants are open to anyone involved in adult education. Finally there is a link to the annual European Border Breakers Awards (EBBAs) which recognise emerging artists' success in popular music.