1730hrs Tuesday 1st September 2020

The Event Industry Alliance is deeply concerned that it was excluded from a key Government meeting yesterday regarding the sector and its future and call for the recognition of the Event Industry as a separate sector and wish to clarify that as a sector it is not represented by The National Campaign For The Arts (NCFA).

The Event Industry Alliance is disappointed that now, in a time of crisis, the primarily non-funded sector will not have any formal representation with the relevant officials. As a matter of urgency and huge concern, they request inclusion in the next planned meeting with the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, to discuss the proposed taskforce for the sector.

It is vital that the Event Industry Alliance be part of this key meeting and all future discussions about the long-term strategy for living with COVID-19 in relation to the arts, culture and events sector. We represent the sector which has not received emergency COVID funding.
The Non-Funded Event Industry supports over 35,000 jobs, contributes over €3.5 billion Euro to the economy and in excess of 3 million annual bed nights to the wider tourism sector. The Event Industry is unique in that this successful and viable industry remains fully closed by government policy.

The EIA was formed in response to the COVID19 crisis. It comprises of Aoife FestivalEvents, Event Industry Association of Ireland, EPIC, @music and entertainment association of Ireland, Event Industry Ireland, Irish Showmens Guild, AIST ÉIST Ireland and Irish Inflatable Hirers Federation (IIHF) groupings and all their members including event management companies, corporate and commercial event organisers, concert and festival promoters, contractors, venues, musicians, entertainers, technical support such as staging, lighting, sound, site crew and many more.