ECA has sent the following letter to the Irish authorities:
Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach
Department of the Taoiseach
Government Buildings
Upper Merrion Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
Copenhagen, 2nd of November 2005
Dear Mr Ahern
The European Council of Artists (ECA), representing professional artists’ umbrella organisations in 25 European countries, regrets the current discussions in Ireland concerning the abolishment of the artists’ tax exemption scheme. The Republic of Ireland is highly respected internationally, especially among the creative community, for the way it treats its artists. For a country of its size, Ireland can be proud of having produced a great many high profile artists. This reputation is its undisputed asset, and it would seem both worthy and wise to undertake proper research in order to see how much value the tax exemption scheme has added to the Irish economy and the cultural life of the nation.
In view of the fact that our globalised world is characterised by ever-growing cultural standardization, a vast number of nations including Ireland have only recently adopted the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. This document aims at having culture and art recognised as a value surpassing the purely economic category of commercial goods and services. It recognizes the sovereign right of nations to adopt appropriate measures in order to protect and foster their unique cultures that actually create cultural diversity. Tax exemptions on the sale of original and creative works of art represent one of the most effective means of promoting a truly flourishing cultural climate.
The ECA therefore urges the government of Ireland to retain the tax exemption scheme for creative artists as its abolishment would endanger Éire’s well-known, respected and also envied image of a nation doing its utmost for its culture and those who largely help making it, i.e. Irish creative artists.
On behalf of the ECA Executive Committee
Yours sincerely
Ludwig Laher,
President
c.c. Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen
Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern