         
New Arts Council The Minister for Arts, Tourism and Sport, Mr John O'Donoghue, TD, has announced the composition of the new Arts Council, the twelfth since its foundation. He has also signed the Commencement Order that brings the new Arts Act 2003 into effect. Speaking at the launch, the Minister said, ‘I believe that the new membership of the Arts Council reflects the imagination, energy and dynamism of the arts sector and the spirit of the new legislation.’ The Council, now reduced from seventeen to thirteen members, is to be chaired by Olive Braiden, a human rights commissioner, member of the broadcasting commission, chairwoman of the Performance Verification Group on Benchmarking for the Department of Justice, and formerly director of the Rape Crisis Centre. A rotation of membership is also to be introduced. Three members have been retained from the last council and will serve a two-and-a half year term: Una Ó Murchú (artistic director, Brú Ború, Cashel); Emer O’Kelly (theatre critic); and Patrick Sutton (director, Gaiety School of Acting). Of the new members, Willie Doherty (artist); Jerome Hynes (Wexford Festival Opera, and also appointed as the Council’s deputy chairman) and Philip King (filmmaker and musician) will also serve for two-and-a half years, although they may be reappointed. The remaining members, Noelle Campbell Sharpe (director, Cill Rialaig artist retreat and Origin Gallery); Theo Dorgan (poet and broadcaster); Rosaleen Linehan (actor); Orlaith McBride (director, National Association of Youth Drama); John McGahern (writer); and Mary Nunan (choreographer, dancer and lecturer) will serve the full five year term to enable the rotation of membership to commence.
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