glór Director, Orla Flanagan, has welcomed funding announced by the Government and Arts Council in line with Budget 2021, appraising the recognition for the industry as a step in the right direction.
The Arts Council have announced funding of €130 million for 2021, marking the highest ever allocation recorded in a national budget. This year’s Budget also includes a €50m for live entertainment supports and Arts Council funding.
glór Theatre is committed to channelling this funding to artists and arts organisations in what has been a difficult year for commercial work and local arts. Orla recognises the significant sum outlined by the government but admits, “I have spent half of my career looking for such financial support and it’s unfortunate that it has taken a pandemic to get to that point and this level of funding.”
Reflecting on the recent Budget 2021 announcement, Orla admits, “What we needed going into this budget, was that we would be really recognised as an industry and as a sector as having really lost out in relation to COVID-19 and really have had our hands tied and possibly more than any other industry. I think it’s really encouraging that we know going into next years planning that we now have the €130 million through the Arts Council.”
Adaptability has been at the forefront of performing arts theatre’s business models since the start of the pandemic and glór Theatre is no exception to this. Amidst an intensive week of budgeting, Orla feels that glór must look at delivering a digital programme and artists supports. She asserts the critical need for a lifeline through the arts centres being throne to artists, where they can continue to work on their development as artists and the creation of work.
“I am looking at what we can generate more locally in collaborations with artists. It would include a digital programme and a curator in residence. We appointed a curator in residence in August and we are hoping that that will be funded for 18 months. It is particularly difficult for commercial work and the local arts, which plays a massive part in our programme. The arts by and large, is a social experience and that is really important in what we do. It is really important that people are fed that through all of this,” Orla states.
On a final note for the future, Orla adds, “I am working on Christmas at the moment. Assuming that people are in the position to come out, especially in relation to families. I’d love to create the opportunity for families to come together as safely as possible and to have some sort of Christmas experience.”
