The BA in Visual Arts on Sherkin Island, run by DIT and SIDS is a brilliant example of how artists bring innovation to communities which can as in this case, create jobs and out of season traffic to a small place. The Degree on Sherkin Island is in a way a testing ground for harnessing technology to innovate education.

The Arts are vital to a healthy country. Ireland has a traditional within the arts and it is wonderful to see that tradition being upheld in remote and disadvantaged areas like West Cork.

The arts encompass so many different forms such as painting, drawing, writing, poetry, music, film, theatre.
The world of art has so much to offer to society apart from the economic outcomes referred to in the article, art provides a form of expression, it encourages critical thinking and innovation, self confidence and in many ways various art forms act as therapy for many people.
Fair enough “modern art” may not appeal to everyone just as poetry might not appeal to others but most people can find something that is worthwhile in some art form or another.
I really believe we need the arts to thrive for the betterment of society in an holistic sense – not just an economical sense, although if the arts do contribute economically as well, then all the better. Please don’t knock the arts- we need art in all it’s various forms to create a more positive society for everyone.

‘The Arts’ is not just ‘Modern Art’ ie. what most commenters here seem to think is abstract paintings. The Arts encompasses a wide variety of all kinds of creativity.. a lot of which is public based initiatives, community projects, working with schools etc. Let’s not forget, a lot of it is part of our culture and heritage… again not speaking about purely painting but also things like jewelry making, fashion and music.. all of these things too belong to ‘The Arts’. Check out the Arts Council website and enlighten yourselves http://www.artscouncil.ie/en/arts_in_ireland.aspx

Thankfully art is unstoppable! It grows in the cracks in a culture. It will always thrive here because of our spirit. Silly comments from those who lack the intelligence to understand are most annoying. I would agree that the more money that is spent at grass roots the better for society. The arts council do a great job

Artists themselves get little – it’s all Govt agencies, quango’s and a training ground for marketing PR types.

Shame on you Jenny!
Your clearly not a fan of the more cultured aspects in society! Personally find the arts add alot of colour to particularly more remote towns and villages that would otherwise consist of no more than a pub-culture.

obviously “You’re” rather than “Your”… kindergarden mistake!!! ;)

A lot of companies set up in the art sector are tax havens for the wealthy ,

What’s “art”? In my opinion those silly paintings, an example above, we saw on the TV last night don’t count. Government’s shouldn’t waste tax payers money on art. If some rich type wants to donate “art” well and good.

I don’t believe there is a net benefit to society as claimed by the report. If it is “employment” it’s just money doing the rounds. Someone earns it and gives it to someone who sticks a few gold squares and a page and he spends it. A lot of modern art is a complete con.

Well there is the council’s wages for painting over all the graffiti for a start …..

Yeah , aslong as artists claim the dole theres plenty of oppertunities in the drugs, cigarettes, alcohol and paint industries.