Recommendations from Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce are a starting point for reboot of AV sector post COVID19

Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) has welcomed today’s (November 17th) publication of the Report of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce - “Life Worth Living”.

Speaking after the publication of the recommendations, SPI Chairperson John Gormley said, “It is evident from the recommendations that the taskforce understood the substantial interventions that are needed to ensure the AV sector reboots stronger post COVID19. SPI’s priority as a member of the taskforce was to create recommendations that sustain and grow the Irish independent production sector - which makes the majority of original Irish content on our screens. We believe these recommendations, if implemented, will play a part in this.”

“The recommendations within the report that deal directly with funding to the sector, such as implementing the Audio-Visual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and increasing the cap on Section 481 applications, need to be implemented without delay. This will ensure that this extra funding can be used by production companies in the near future. In particular, the content levy, associated with AVMSD, will take time to pass through the Oireachtas so the Online Media Regulation Bill should start the legislative process now.”

“The Government has a deadline of July 2021 to implement the Copyright Directive, so it is important that it sets out the timetable for the Directive’s implementation.

SPI has been working with other key AV sector stakeholders – Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, TG4, RTÉ, Virgin Media Television and Screen Ireland - through our Screen Greening group to introduce internationally recognised tools like the BAFTA albert carbon calculator and certification for ecological sustainable productions.

“The growing importance of ensuring ecological sustainable practices in our industry is reinforced by Recommendation 10: on greening the creative sector. We look forward to continuing this work with the Departments of Media and Climate Action as more productions look to reduce their carbon footprint.”

SPI would like to thank Clare Duignan for all her work steering this report to publication in a short space of time, and the other members of the taskforce for their dedication to its completion, including the departmental staff who assisted the taskforce in their work.

SPI’s previous CEO, Elaine Geraghty, was a member of the taskforce representing the AV sector.

ENDS