1. The Effect of Tourism Funding on Arts Festivals in Ireland
Postgraduate Research Student: Karena Rushe
Supervisor: Karen Gardiner A.I.T.
THRIC 15th June 2011

2. Background Postgraduate student
Currently undertaking Master of Arts by Research in Athlone Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Tourism and Hospitality Management
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3. Overall aim of the Study
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
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4. Importance of the Tourism Sector
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
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5. Cultural Tourism
Including festivals - central ingredient that sets Ireland apart from competing destinations
Cultural visitors – spent €2bn approx
m 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)
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6. Cultural Tourism Cultural tourism is forecast to grow at 15% p.a.
(World Tourism Organisation, 2011)
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7. Culture - The arts - tourism
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 )
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8. The Arts
Festivals
Theatre
Visual Arts
Literature
Opera
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9. St. Patrick’s Festival
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10. Galway Arts Festival
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11. Arts Festivals
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
Public Sector Grants
39%
Ticket Sales
33%
Sponsorship & Friends Scheme incl. in kind support*
26%
Other Earned Income 2%
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12. Importance OF FESTIVALS
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
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13. Investment
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 €92)
(Dept of Tourism, Culture and Sport, 2010)
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14. Arts council investment
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)
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15. Examples of Funding Funding received in 2010 - :
Dublin Fringe Festival €315,000
Cork Midsummer Festival €180,000
Wexford Opera Festival €1.3m
Waterford Youth Arts €66,300
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16. Funding of the Festivals
Funding decisions
Critical for survival and long-term sustainability
Implications of funding
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17. Effect of Funding Authenticity Over-reliance Funding Direction
Visitor experience
Over-reliance
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18. dIRECTION Main drivers of festival activities… Art form development
Community/ audience development
Tourism
Economic regeneration (Inkei, 2005)
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19. Visitor Experience
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
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20. Over - Reliance Festivals dependence on funding for survival
Sponsorship
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21. Authenticity Appreciation for the arts
‘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
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22. Sustainability Proactive in planning festivals each year
Long-term considerations
Uncontrolled expansion
Impact on sensitive sites - historic towns
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23. Aim of Study To determine… Effect of tourism funding on arts festivals
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24. Further Research Scoping the arts festivals
Contact with festival organisers
Questionnaire design and piloting
Distribution of questionnaire
Structured interviews
Collation of data and analysis
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25. Conclusion
“The arts create attractions for tourism which in turn supplies extra audiences for the arts”.
(Myerscough, 1988)
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