It's unusual to see an Arts Council calling people onto the street - these Councils are, after all, an arm's-length form of central government. Nonetheless, a call has gone out from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, appealing for a public demonstration of support for the arts, in the face of dwindling funding. Here is the call in full:
KEEP OUR ARTS ALIVE RALLY
Monday 10th December 2007, 10.30am
Stormont, Belfast
The arts sector is calling all artists, arts groups and supporters to gather at Carson's statue at Stormont on Monday 10th December 2007 at 10.30am, to make a public call for increased arts funding.
A letter will be handed to the MLAs at 11.00am.
Supporters might come dressed in costume, or carrying the tools of your arts/crafts. Please bring a banner or placard with the name of your group/artform/hometown/who you work with - so there is a strong visual signal about the reach of the art.
LIMITED FREE TRANSPORT TO THE RALLY
Two Ulsterbus buses will travel from Derry City to Stormont on the morning of the rally, picking up along the way. The buses will return to Derry City via the same routes, departing Stormont at 1pm and arriving back at the Guildhall at 3.00pm-3.30pm.
Route 1
7.30am - Depart Derry, Guildhall Square
8.00am - pick-up Dungiven, Belfast Bus Stop, Top of the town
8.45am - pick-up Magherafelt, Castledawson roundabout
9.00am - pick-up Toombridge, Toom by-pass
10.00am - Arrive Stormont
Route 2
7.00am - Depart Derry, Guildhall Square
7.30am - pick-up Strabane, Bus depot
8.00am - pick-up Omagh, Bus depot
9.00am - pick-up Dungannon, Bus depot
10.00am - Arrive Stormont
**PLEASE NOTE:
Places are strictly limited to 49 seats on each bus. Seats are available only by contacting mhendry@artscouncil-ni.org. Seats will be allocated to the first 49 people on each route to respond directly to this email address. We will send you an email confirming your booking, which you should present to the driver on embarkation.
To book a seat, please email us the following information:
1. your name
2. on which Route you would like to travel
3. at which bus stop you would like to be picked up.
Do you intend to join the rally?
Even if you do not intend to travel on one of these buses, but intend to attend the rally, it would be very helpful if you could drop us an email to let us know, so that we can gauge the likely turnout.
The call has gone out from the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Culture Ireland for expressions of interest in being the next Commissioner from the Republic of Ireland at the Venice Biennale in 2009. The perks are obvious, but it is a tough gig. More info at http://www.artscouncil.ie/en/tenders.aspx.
