Ireland's current cultural policy is shaped by three significant documents: the Government's Culture 2025 policy framework, to be finalised and launched in late 2017; the Arts Council's strategy document Making Great Art Work (2016-2025); the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022).
Through Culture 2025, the Government aims to:
– Enrich the lives of everyone through engagement in the cultural life of the nation
– Create opportunities for increased citizen participation, especially for those currently excluded
– Encourage ambition, risk, innovation and excellence in the creative and cultural sectors
– Ensure that culture is seen as a core component of the work across Government
– Recognise and support the cultural contribution of the voluntary sector
– Ensure the robustness of system which safeguard and promote Ireland’s cultural heritage
– Support a thriving Irish language, with vibrant Gaeltacht communities and other language networks
– Promote Ireland’s culture on the international stage
– Finance this vision with well-designed funding mechanisms
The key values underpinning Culture 2025 are:
– The intrinsic value of culture
– The value of culture to our lives and our communities
– The right of everyone to participate in the cultural life of the nation
– The importance of the Irish language, our cultural heritage, folklore, games, music and the uniqueness of our Gaeltacht areas
– The value of cultural diversity, informed by the many traditions and social backgrounds now in Ireland
– The value of culture as a means of fostering a more sustainable future for Ireland, including through economic and social policy
– The value of culture in presenting Ireland to the world
Culture 2025 therefore explictly acknowledges and works to promote cultural diversity and the broader aims of the Convention.
Making Great Art Work and the Creative Ireland Programme, which are coordinated to support Culture 2025, likewise promote the diversity of cultural expressions.