The National Campaign for the Arts has issued its summary of the Government’s 2013 budget allocation for the arts.

This is the fifth consecutive year of cuts to arts funding. The key points are as follows:

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 
• Expenditure will be €260 million in 2013, a cut of 5.4% across the Department. This will consist of €222 million in current expenditure and €38 million in capital expenditure.
• The Programme Expenditure for Arts, Culture and Film will be €125.4m in 2013, a cut of 5% from €132.3m in 2012. 

Arts Council
• Arts Council funding for 2013 will be €60.7 million, a cut of 4% from €63.24 million in 2012 (and a cut of 26% from €82 million in 2008).

High levels of programme activities that refer to the Arts are:
• EU Presidency Culture Programme delivered at home and abroad
• Support in spending programme for The Gathering initiative
• Ongoing management and operation of National Cultural Institutions
• Fostering cultural tourism, including the provision of support to the Abbey Theatre, events such as the Wexford Opera Festival, the Dublin Theatre Festival and a wide range of local festivals.

Other notable items
• Section 481, Film Tax Relief Scheme extended until the end of 2020.
• Simplification of the scheme of tax relief available for donations to charitable and other approved bodies, including the introduction of a blended rate of relief of 31%
• An increase in Universal Social Charge exemption level from €4,004 to €10,036.

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