News

€230,000 awarded by Arts Council under Documenting the Arts scheme

The Arts Council today announced that a total of €230,000 has been awarded to seven film proposals under a new Documenting the Arts scheme. This new production fund, which is a collaboration between the Arts Council and an Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, aims to encourage new and established film-makers produce arts-based documentaries that examine the diverse issues of arts and culture in a contemporary or historical context.

One hundred and thirty applications were received by the 7 June deadline. Of these, 14 proposals were short-listed, with seven being awarded a total of €230,000.

The proposals awarded are as follows:

• Wildfire Films for a project based on the Druid Synge Cycle produced by Martha O’Neil (€40,000).
• Johnny White for a project on the writer Pádraic Ó Connaire (€40,000).
• Sibéal Teo for a project on poet and Aosdána member, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, produced by Nuala O’Connor (€40,000).
• Cathal Black Films for a project entitled ‘Learning Gravity’ on poet and undertaker Thomas Lynch (€40,000).
• Comet Films for a project entitled ‘One Healing with Theatre’, with Pan Pan Theatre Company (€30,000).
• Cinegael for a project entitled ‘Contempo Goes West’ produced and directed by Bob Quinn (€30,000).
• Film Corporation of Ireland for its documentary on the ceramicist, John ffrench, produced by David Shaw Smith (€10,000).

The sum of €230,000 announced today is part of a stepped fund, whereby the Arts Council provides awards of up to €40,000. These seven proposals may now use their awards to fully-fund or part-fund their projects. The seven recipients may advance to stage two and approach the Irish Film Board for further funding of up to €50,000 per project. This money from the Irish Film Board is automatically triggered by a commitment from a broadcaster.

Speaking today, Mary Cloake, Director of the Arts Council said: “In leading this project, the Arts Council is pleased to support film-makers in this way. This scheme is a major step forward in chronicling the contribution of the arts and artists in our society. Given the level of interest, we hope to see the Documenting the Arts scheme become a regular funding option. We congratulate the successful film-makers and we hope their work reaches the widest audience possible”.

Irish Film Board Deputy CEO, Teresa McGrane said: “The Irish Film Board is delighted to be able to facilitate funding for new broadcast documentaries that celebrate art in all its forms. Key to the success of the Documenting the Arts scheme will be the Arts Council, the Irish Film Board and the broadcasters working closely together with Irish documentary film-makers to ensure that these films find as large an audience as possible.”

RTÉ’s Commissioning Editor of Factual Programmes, Kevin Dawson said: “This is a strong slate of projects and augurs well for the future of the scheme. RTÉ will continue to support this initiative and expects to pursue a number of these projects in discussion with the Arts Council and the Film Board. RTÉ Television through its Arts Lives series is the largest funder of arts documentary in Ireland”.

Proinsias Ní Ghráinne, Eagarthóir Coimisiúnaithe TG4 said: “Three of the seven awards went to Irish language projects. Such vivid and surprising stories will resonate with TG4 audiences and provide a real and open-minded reflection of the wealth that artists bring to our communities”.

The scheme to date has been kindly administered by FilmBase on behalf of the Arts Council.