"Have your say" on new Sinn Féin arts policy, says Stanley

Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley has called on the local artistic and wider community in Laois/Offaly to answer an arts survey launched by Sinn Féin as part of a consultation process towards developing a comprehensive national policy for the arts.

"We are calling on all creators, performers, artists, and people who simply enjoy the arts. We want to hear from you" said Deputy Stanley.

The survey is being carried out as part of Sinn Féin's big to develop a more comprehensive policy on the arts covering all aspects of the arts: music; dance; literature; film; theatre; visual arts; spectacle; crafts; functional arts; and everything beyond and in between.

"Putting an arts policy together must start with listening to artists, arts workers and those who engage with the arts, as well as those who can’t engage with the arts for reasons we can try to fix" said the Laois/Offaly deputy "it is really important that the local artistic community in counties Laois and Offaly makes its voice heard to ensure Sinn Féin can put our needs at the heart of its new arts policy.’’

Deputy Stanley said the survey affords people "a unique opportunity" to shape the art policy "of the biggest party in Ireland" and with that the future of the arts strategy at all levels across the whole of Ireland, in and out of Government.

The survey includes questions on the barriers faced by artists, local arts spaces and facilities, state bodies like the Arts Council, the basic income for the arts, emigration, and what supports are needed’’.

“This is a listening exercise, and we hope to learn from respondents about the needs of the sector as we embark on this exciting process to bolster Ireland’s world-famous artistic scene, address the precarity in the sector, and safeguard the livelihoods of those who depend on it" he said.

The Sinn Féin Arts Survey can be filled out online at https://outreach.sinnfein.ie/arts-survey/.

They also welcome written submissions by email to Sinn Féin Arts spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD at aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie.

The deadline for completing the survey or sending a submission is Tuesday April 30th.