Use the “Previous” and “Next” links above to browse through the two pages of ideas in this category.

Summary of ideas submitted in the Culture category…

• State owned galleries/museums should have some type of entrance fee. “Cultural levy” could be a temporary measure to help ease the State’s financial difficulties.
• Holding a World Scouting jamboree would encourage scouts from all over the world to visit Ireland for a week or two.
• Create a ’swear jar’ at work (funds to a worthy charity) for the use of empty clichés.
• All companies/sole traders must designate 5% of their income, tax deductible, to an approved cultural project. Cultural project, e.g. a film-maker comes up with a script and submits it to the Department of Culture for approval. Once approved, the film-maker can then sell his idea directly to companies and other business people to make up a maximum budget. The investors can use the film to promote their business.
• If we reject Europe we must be prepared to go it alone.
• The Aran Islands are Galway Bay’s Crown of Pearls, with abundance of creative and commercial potential, just waiting to be harnessed. “ARAN” should be the focus for a new national brand. An international creative competition should be established in order to find a new ARAN branded cultural product. It could be performance related, have a universal story or an idea could be created for multimedia / cyberspace. This new brand of cultural/heritage experience/product would be made globally recognised.
• (1) An understanding of banking and the Government and (2) the creation of a “Culture Creation Industry” could help give confidence to the Irish people. From this, you will see a great revival in the Irish people, their energy and vitality.
• A more balanced reporting of economic circumstances. This could set the scene for a much broader acceptance of the changes that are coming down the line.
• A more balanced reporting of economic circumstances. This could set the scene for a much broader acceptance of the changes that are coming down the line.
• In order to beat the negativity of the recession, we should pass on a skill to the locality. This small project covers community building, overcomes multiculturalism and ageism problems.
• Paint all of the Dublin’s scaffolding a bright colour - like hot pink - to beautify the city and raise morale.
• Provide passports to people of Irish descent provided they transfer funds to Irish banks and show evidence of plans to purchase a house/business in Ireland/ resettle/retire/spend some years here. (Say, third generation as a limit).
• Limit the amount of asylum for a while till the economy picks up.
• Theatre Festival conducts an online poll to find plays that would attract support. Charge €25 to vote for a play/playwright in next year’s theatre festival, If the play happens, the voter gets a ticket (or a discounted ticket). If they do not attend, they lose the money. If the play does not happen, they get their money back. The theatre festival has the interest on the money for six months or so to fund the scheme. Theatre companies would have a known minimum number of sales if they decide to stage a play.
• Irish Film Board to concentrate more on finding home grown writing and directing talent rather than trying to find Hollywood film to shoot in Ireland
• If an artist earns over an amount, then they should be liable for tax rather than having all arts exempt from tax.
• Look at ways to collect money from artists for the culture/arts/Irish charities
• To assist bank solvency, mortgage holder can pay a lump sum off an existing mortgage, remaining capital is reduced by that lump amount and the bank offers a further percentage of the remaining capital.
• Part of the Irish culture is our healers. People come from all over the world to Ireland for healing or to train in these ancient and yet effective techniques of which there is no side effects.
• The Irish government should acquire the American embassy site and transform it into a museum devoted to things Irish/American and use the site to encourage the close links that have always existed between the two countries.
• Use of empty retail and business units to provide workspace for artists, students, colleges where they can develop and create work, and provide an opportunity for vibrancy in areas which are suffering due to closure
• Tell people from other countries about our culture to attract attention and tourism.
• Promote Irish language holiday courses for adults across the globe.
• Organise something like Live Aid for Ireland. If everyone on the island contributed €100 each to go towards our borrowing or whatever, that would come to €45,000,000.
• Irish artists should be promoted in a way to gain international recognition. Create a movement, encourage international sales of art.
• Holding a simple celebration of life day e.g. Count Your Blessings Day’ - or ‘Be Grateful Day’ - or ‘Feel Good to be Alive Day’
• A group of American business people are developing Irishcentral.com with a budget of $12 million. We need to develop this community in Ireland
• Produce a co-op television series that could be sold abroad.
• We should publish the top 10-15% of ideas in national newspapers. This might trigger further development in that area and get people thinking of solutions.
• Create a more compassionate and happy society. Need to improve regulation and create a tax system that reflects an ethos of well being and happiness.
• Inspire the Irish film industry to create films about our rich history, but more in terms of our mythological history due to the advancement of CGI.
• Try to develop a social scene that doesn’t revolve around alcohol. Try to restructure pubs that are going through difficult time to concentrate on Craic agus Ceol and good food.
• Individuals should make an effort to learn a new language and therefore helping to create jobs.
• Turn deserted businesses into art spaces like in Belgium and parts of England.
• Send passes of all state owned museums and historical sites to every Irish family