The affiliation of creative artists Aosdána has said that proposals for changes to the organisation made by the Arts Council were manifestly unfair and if accepted would damage the organisation and deprive old and ill members of their livelihoods.
The proposals included a change to how the Cnuas grant currently worth over €17,000 annually is awarded.
The proposals were discussed by Aosdána members at the organisation’s general assembly in Dublin, which was held in private.
In a statement issued after the meeting the assembly said the Arts Council had failed to properly consult with the Toscaireacht, the governing body of Aosdána, and it said it is vital that the relationship of trust and cooperation between the two be restored.
It said Aosdána was committed to that mission and was reaching out to the Arts Council.
In a separate statement, the Arts Council said its draft discussion document was the first step in what was envisaged to be a long and open discussion process between the Arts Council and the Toscaireacht of Aosdána and it said it looks forward to working in partnership with the Toscaireacht in the coming months.
