Patrick O’Donovan TD
Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport
Being appointed Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport was a great honour. This role spans various agencies, including the Arts Council, Screen Ireland and RTÉ, with huge potential for growth and modernisation in many spaces.
Participation in the arts is crucial for child development, enhancing education and wellbeing. As a former teacher, I believe it’s vital to inform young people about the diverse career opportunities in the arts and creative sectors.
Cinema and the arts rising
Film and television production involves collaboration among lots of different creatives across various roles. The same goes for radio, theatre, literature and visual arts, offering hundreds of engaging job opportunities.
Irish cinema has entered a dynamic era, just think of successful films like An Cailín Ciúin and the recent Academy Award nominations. The introduction of a new games tax credit and enhancements to Section 481 have further bolstered our creative industry and made us more attractive for big players. Additionally, we’ve celebrated international successes such as the Booker and Fedora prizes.
My department is targeting fresh areas
of potential, including commercial
design, gaming and virtual reality.
Backing future industries
My department is targeting fresh areas of potential, including commercial design, gaming and virtual reality. I met with really enthusiastic representatives of the gaming industry in San Francisco in March, and my officials are developing a new, more focused unit to aid the development of the gaming sector in Ireland.
I’m excited to announce a new initiative promoting creative careers. This autumn, my department and its agencies will host a career event in the RDS to showcase available job opportunities and relevant courses.
Inclusion in the arts
My goal is to ensure that all young people, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, are aware of the thriving career landscape in the cultural and creative industries. I hope to meet many of you there and encourage you to consider creative careers as a rewarding pathway to pursue through your working lives.
