The Effect of Tourism Funding on Arts Festivals in Ireland

Postgraduate Research Student: Karena Rushe Supervisor: Karen Gardiner A.I.T.

THRIC 15 th June 2011

 Postgraduate student  Currently undertaking Master of Arts by Research in Athlone Institute of Technology  Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Tourism and Hospitality Management THRIC 2011 AIT

To determine…  Effect of tourism funding on arts festivals

In terms of …

 Structure and scale of festivals  Creative flow  Authenticity of the arts  Sustainability of festivals THRIC 2011 AIT

Economic benefits…

€4.3 billion in 2000 to €6.5 billion in 2007 €3.4 billion in 2010 (Fáilte Ireland, 2010)

Employment…

170,000 – direct employment 80,000 - tourism related employment (ITIC, 2011)

Regional development…

Spatial spread of tourism Strengthen local economies THRIC 2011 AIT

 Including festivals - central ingredient that sets Ireland apart from competing destinations  Cultural visitors – spent €2bn approx  2009 - 3.3m visitors engaged in cultural activities – visits to historical sites, genealogy, attendance at festivals and events.

 Attendance at festivals and events by overseas visitors was 376,000 (Fáilte Ireland, 2010) THRIC 2011 AIT

 Cultural tourism is forecast to grow at 15% p.a. (World Tourism Organisation, 2011) THRIC 2011 AIT

 Significant mutual benefit for the arts sector and for tourism  Arts Council work closely with Fáilte Ireland and others to support initiatives to make the arts more central to the achievement of Ireland’s tourism objectives. ( Arts Council Strategic Overview 2011-2013 ) THRIC 2011 AIT

Theatre Opera Festivals Visual Arts Literature

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 Key role to play - tourism - marketing Ireland – development of the arts  To stage these festivals - requires funding

E.g.: Galway Arts Festival

€2.1 million to produce - 2009 Public Sector Grants Ticket Sales Sponsorship & Friends Scheme incl. in kind support* Other Earned Income

39% 33% 26% 2%

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In 2009 

Kilkenny Arts Festival

Attracted 100,000 and generated more than 30,000 bed nights 

Spraoi Street Festival - Waterford

Attracted 100,000 visitors 

Guinness Jazz Festival - Cork

Generated €5m approx  Fleadh Cheoil na h’Eireann – Cavan Generated €19.7 m to the local economy THRIC 2011 AIT

 2002 -2006 Fáilte Ireland supported over 400 festivals - investment of €16m (Fáilte Ireland, 2009)  Government investment (2009) - €551m  Includes €405m for current spending and €146m for capital projects  Total allocation for the Arts, Culture and Film sector €185m (doubled -5 years. 2003 - €92) (Dept of Tourism, Culture and Sport, 2010) THRIC 2011 AIT

In 2006

 Arts Council invested €72m approx

In 2008

 Invested €82m • 

Example:

The Arts Council funded 143 applications €20 million • The Arts Council invested €9 million less in 2010 (The Arts Council, 2010) THRIC 2011 AIT

Funding received in 2010 - :  Dublin Fringe Festival €315,000  Cork Midsummer Festival €180,000  Wexford Opera Festival €1.3m

 Waterford Youth Arts €66,300 THRIC 2011 AIT

 Funding decisions  Critical for survival and long-term sustainability  Implications of funding THRIC 2011 AIT

Authenticity Over reliance Funding Direction Visitor experience THRIC 2011 AIT

Main drivers of festival activities…

 Art form development  Community/ audience development  Tourism  Economic regeneration

(Inkei, 2005)

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 Organisation - management of festivals can change the visitor experience  Quality of experience  Might not be the memorable experience visitors would expect  Balance between the arts - entertainment THRIC 2011 AIT

 Festivals dependence on funding for survival  Sponsorship THRIC 2011 AIT

‘New and authentic experiences can turn a holiday

into a life adventure’ (Quinn, B.,2007)

 Appreciation for the arts  Festival planning and development can affect the authenticity of a festival  Preservation of a festival could have critical implications THRIC 2011 AIT

 Proactive in planning festivals each year  Long-term considerations  Uncontrolled expansion  Impact on sensitive sites - historic towns THRIC 2011 AIT

To determine…  Effect of tourism funding on arts festivals THRIC 2011 AIT

 Scoping the arts festivals  Contact with festival organisers  Questionnaire design and piloting  Distribution of questionnaire  Structured interviews  Collation of data and analysis THRIC 2011 AIT

“The arts create attractions for tourism which in turn supplies extra audiences for the arts”.

(Myerscough, 1988)

http://www.galwayartsfestival.com/promo/index.php?ct=77&id=20 6&t=promotional-video THRIC 2011 AIT