The Arts Council was clearly taken aback by the ferocious response to last week’s announcement of measures to support artists, arts workers and cultural organisations during the coronavirus crisis. “We know that this is a deeply worrying and challenging time for you,” the council said following a board meeting. The National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA) said it was “dismayed by the lack of vision”. Just as irritating was the department’s trumpeting of “advance funding of €25 million” – money already allocated in the last budget. England has allocated an additional £160 million to the arts, while Germany has announced a remarkable allocation of €50 billion.

Source: The Irish Times April 11, 2020 03:56 UTC