Paul Johnson, Registrar, Aosdána, writes:

On behalf of the membership of Aosdána, I wish to clarify recent statements made concerning Aosdána (JMI, Vol 5, No 4, p. 8). I also take this opportunity to address a misunderstanding readers might have regarding Aosdána’s membership and nomination process.

At the General Assembly of 3 May, 12 new members, out of 23 nominations, were elected, including composers Rhona Clarke, Donnacha Dennehy and Benjamin Dwyer. Membership of Aosdána, which is by peer nomination and election only, honours artists engaged in architecture, choreography, music, literature and the visual arts. The current membership numbers 210 and over the next five years will grow to 250.

While the Arts Council provides a secretariat and funding to Aosdána, Aosdána is an autonomous affiliation of artists, whose internal affairs are overseen by a ten-member committee – Toscaireacht, which is elected to serve a two-year term. The Arts Council and the Toscaireacht enjoy a positive and mutually beneficial working relationship.

While we welcome the Arts Council’s recent report on the traditional arts, and support any recommendations that advance the role of the artist, it is important to note that there is no obstacle to a traditional artist working in any of the media mentioned above from being elected to Aosdána.

Editor’s reply: If there is ‘no obstacle to a traditional artist … being elected’, than one wonders how in 24 years it has never happened. The obvious explanation is that Aosdána members have either not considered it a priority, or have not considered it appropriate.
That, however, is in the past. The relationship between the traditional arts and the state is changing for the better. Aosdána members are in an excellent position to contribute further to this. Those who do consider such a move appropriate need to make it a priority.