Richard Boyd Barrett , TD, speaks out for support for all arts workers in the Republic.
We need support here in the North right now. With all due respect, arts workers need more than just piecemeal monies that might stop and start, or one off payments that preclude other offers of support. The arts workers of NI need ongoing sufficient funds to assist them and their families through this crisis.
For the majority, they will have no possibility of income until at least step 4 or 5 of the reopening process announced this week. That may be months in coming.
This is an industry that generates huge social value and economic benefits yet has only received an additional £1m of support. It needs an another £4m every 3 months according to the recent Arts Council report: that’s an additional £16m minimum p.a. never mind what workers in the film industry, or creative education might also need to get by.
Let’s see this debated in the Assembly and help arts workers here gain the recognition and support they need.
We welcome and are grateful for the financial assistance that has been offered so far, but it falls so far short of what’s actually needed to get art workers through this crisis.
Support the arts, support arts workers.
Find the money. Fund the arts.
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