New chapter for Arts Council as Chair takes up role

From 12 June, the newly appointed Chair of The Arts Council, Maura McGrath, begins her five-year term. RTÉ’s Arts & Media Correspondent Evelyn O’Rourke asks, what lies ahead for the council’s new board?

The new Chair of The Arts Council’ board, will begin her term today, and a week later, on 19 June, Maura McGrath, most recently Chair of the National Concert Hall, will take the reins at the board’s first official meeting, succeeding Professor Kevin Rafter, who was chair from 2019 to 2023.

Minister for Arts Catherine Martin confirmed that she will commence the process to replace the NCH Chair shortly, filling the vacancy left by Ms McGrath’s appointment.

Concerns had been raised about the gap Professor Rafter’s departure created, as he stepped down to take up a Fulbright Award at Boston College, hosting his final board meeting in December 2023.

Not alone was there a vacancy in the chair position, but there were also five other gaps on the board too.

The confirmation in May, that Ms McGrath will also be joined by five new members on the board – Róise Goan, Brian Ó Gáibhín, Gaby Smyth, Richard Yarr and Dr Gary Granville – has been welcomed by the wider arts sector.

Working with the Director of The Arts Council, Maureen Kennelly, these are important appointments for the council, as the board is central to the governance, oversight and strategic direction of that organisation.

As the national agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland, The Arts Council manages a budget of €134 million, and the agency’s funding decisions are key to future planning for many in the arts sector.

So, who is the new Chair?

Maura McGrath has over 20 years’ experience working at senior management and executive levels and is a member of the Institute of Directors. She is accredited in Corporate Governance and a faculty member of the Irish Management Institute.

She has been a member of the National Concert Hall (NCH) board since 2014 and Chair since 2016.

During her tenure, she led on the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra and Choirs to the NCH from RTÉ, and oversaw future plans for the redevelopment of the concert Hall complex at Earlsfort Terrace amongst other issues, so she brings a wealth of arts management experience to the role.

Other pressing issues also include reviewing the pending Crowe Report on past governance issues at the Abbey Theatre.

What’s in the Inbox for The Arts Council board?

The first thing any new chair will review is the organisation’s budget and in the case of The Arts Council it stands at €134 million.

When Prof Rafter joined, in 2019, the figure was €75 million, so under his and his board’s stewardship, and during Minister Martin’s time at the department, there has been an increase of 80% to the budget.

There was confirmation today from the council that the immediate task ahead for the new board is to focus on the budget, and to secure €150 million in funding, with the additional €16 million being used “to further realise the ambitions of the arts sector”.

Talking to people across the sector, the appointment of the new Chair is broadly welcomed, and it seems that the principal concern for them is also the commitment to continued funding.

‘Sustained investment’

Money has been at the heart of many conversations held with the arts sector in recent weeks.

At the ‘Status of the Artist’ conference held last month, the positive impact of the ‘Basic Income for Artists’ pilot project was reported in the first in depth study on the scheme. Set up by Minister Martin’s department, observers said they hoped that the level of investment involved could be secured, expanded and was “election proof”.

This hope is mentioned too in relation to the budgeting for The Arts Council, with those in the sector emphasising the importance of sustained funding, both for the council itself and the art forms it supports.

The hopes too are that if there was another economic downturn, or if another event such as Covid (which hit the arts sector particularly badly) occurred, that the new board will continue to ensure that sustainable funding for the sector is on the political agenda.

Labour spokesperson on the Arts Marie Sherlock said that having “the roof over the head for the artists to sleep at night and the roof to shelter them as they carry out their work, has to be a live issue for the new board”.

She welcomed the appointment of Ms McGrath, and said she was calling for The Arts Council Board to “keep a focus on the issues of harassment and exploitation of younger artists (as highlighted in the ‘Mise Fosta’ campaign) within the wider ‘Fair Plé’ initiative”.

In terms of priorities, the on-going shortages of artist spaces is something Ms Sherlock is concerned about, and is also calling on The Arts Council board to give “greater attention and consideration to this and make it a key policy for the arts”.

Other people across the sector including Cian O’Brien (Artistic Director) and Orla Moloney (Executive Director) at ‘The Project Arts Centre’ warmly welcomed Ms McGrath’s appointment saying: “It is fantastic that.. someone with significant experience of the challenges and joys of Chairing an arts organisation works to achieve its goal of increasing funding to €150 million in 2025.”

On behalf of ‘The Abbey Theatre’, Caitriona McLaughlin Artistic Director and Mark O’Brien, Executive Director said they “welcome Maura McGrath as chair” and that her appointment “to this critical role in our sector, is an exciting one”.

Cork Opera House CEO Eibhlín Gleeson also welcomed the appointment saying “we must continue to support our artists, from our emerging artists all the way through to our established artists, with Arts Council Support. Our sector cannot thrive without this. We wish Maura all the best with her tenure as Chair.”

Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne, who is a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Media, “there has been significant and welcome investment by government in the Arts, including through the Arts Council itself, and it will be important to show the return on that (culturally, societally and economically) so that we can see that investment sustained and increased”.