PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Siobhan Colgan
colgansiobhan@gmail.com | (087) 7992330|
IRISH PEN DEBATES THE ROLE OF ARTS IN THE ECONOMY
March 2010 - Ireland’s association of writers, Irish PEN, is delighted to announce its forthcoming
debate on ‘The Arts and the Economy’, which takes place at the United Arts Club, Upper Fitzwilliam
Street in Dublin, on Thursday 15 April 2010. Among the panellists are Aidan Burke, Operations
Director with the Arts Council, Gerry Godley, Director of the Improvised Jazz Company, broadcaster
and spokesperson for the National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA), Claire Doody, Project Manager of
Cultural Odyssey, which was set up by businessman Dermot Desmond following the Irish Economic
Forum in Farmleigh last year, and Declan Kiberd, literary critic and Chair of Anglo-Irish Literature and
Drama at UCD.
The debate, which centres on the vital role Irish arts plays in the national economy, aims to add the
current public deliberations on this subject.
Author Marita Conlon-McKenna, who is a member of the Irish PEN Committee which has organized
the debate, says, “PEN is an association that regularly discusses the many issues facing
contemporary arts and Irish writing in particular. So it is fitting, in this present climate, that it offers a
platform for the expression of and engagement with existent and new ideas of how the arts can
respond to the current economic ills of this country. We are very pleased that our guest panellists
are people with vision and a passion for the arts and I look forward to a great debate.”
Panellist, Gerry Godley, adds, “I’m extremely honoured to be asked to participate in Irish PEN’s
timely panel discussion. The extensive impact of arts on the Irish economy can not be underestimated. Yet while many recognise and accept that arts and culture are very much part of the
solution to our nation’s current problems it’s imperative that we continue the discourse on further
the ways and necessity of implementing that solution.”
*‘The Arts and the Economy’* debate takes place at 8pm on Thurs 15 April at The United Arts Club, 3 Upper
Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. Ticket prices are €3 Irish PEN members, €5 non-members. All are welcome.
Booking essential as places are limited. E-mail info @irishpen.com, phone: 087 966 0770*
Irish PEN is affiliated to International PEN, a worldwide association of writers in 90 countries. PEN
stands for poets, playwrights, editors, essayists and novelists. The organisation exists to promote
friendship, freedom of expression, international goodwill and intellectual co-operation between
writers from a variety of mediums. It was originally founded by English novelist Catherine Amy
Dawson Scott who envisaged a dinner club where well-known writers could meet socially. The first
dinner was held in October 1921 with 41 writers in attendance, including Joseph Conrad and D.H.
Lawrence. Following this, the Irish branch of PEN was established by Lady Augusta Gregory. The
current president of the association is playwright Brian Friel.
#####