Cultural Institutions Unit- Overview
The Cultural Institutions Unit of the Department seeks to create an environment enabling the National Cultural Institutions to flourish through the provision of financial resources and an appropriate policy framework.
The National Cultural Institutions are:
National Archives, National Concert Hall, National Library of Ireland, National Museum of Ireland, Chester Beatty Library and the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Crawford Art Gallery Cork and in addition the National Gallery of Ireland, which has its own Exchequer Vote and is responsible to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. Issues relating to the day-to-day management of the individual National Cultural Institutions are dealt with directly by the institutions themselves; matters relating to the general policy under which they operate and the provision of financial resources are matters for this Unit.
Core Policy Goal
To enhance access to and to recognise the social and economic role of the arts, culture and film sectors in Ireland by promoting and encouraging artistic expression, cultural awareness and participation, through an appropriate policy, legislative and resource framework. provide a capital infrastructure for the National Cultural Institutions.
Supporting Objectives
To develop a detailed, integrated policy which will create and sustain involvement in the cultural sector and will encourage access and participation having regard, inter alia, to Government, EU and North/South policies.
To progress the cultural capital programme as set out in the National Development Plan and the Programme for Government within the financial resources available.
To improve the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the mechanisms delivering State support for the cultural sector through the various State agency structures.
To enhance the collections of the national cultural institutions that are collecting agencies and access to these.
To service the requirements of the Government's Commemoration established
under the auspices of the Department of the Taoiseach.
Key Issues
- To review the National Archives Act, 1986;
- To oversee the completion of the capital projects of the National Cultural Institutions to meet their accommodation needs and to improve the level and quality of services to the public;
- To develop and establish strategies in consultation with the cultural institutions concerned to address their future maintenance and capital development needs;
- To bring forward a strategy to provide a modern National Concert Hall with the appropriate facilities;
- To encourage the cultural institutions to maximise their appeal to the general public and, in particular, to young people, the socially disadvantaged and visitors from abroad.
Key Legislation
Heritage Fund Act, 2001
National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997
National Archives Act, 1986
Documents and Pictures Act, 1945
National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 (Commencement) Orders
Statutory Instrument (S.I.)
S.I. No. 222/1997
S.I. No. 328/1997
S.I. No. 438/1998
S.I. No. 640/2002
S.I. No. 218/2005
S.I. No. 219/2005
S.I. No. 220/2005
S.I. No. 226/2005
Copies of the above legislation (including commencement orders) pertaining to the Cultural Institutions are available through the Government Publications Office or at www.irishstatutebook.ie