The Board of the Arts Council has announced, with deep regret, that Maureen Kennelly will step down as Director of the Arts Council in June.
Maureen concluded her five-year term on 4 May and has generously agreed to remain in her role to represent the Arts Council at upcoming Public Accounts Committee and Oireachtas hearings.
Maureen was appointed Director in April 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She led the organisation through an exceptionally challenging time, guiding it with strength and vision. Under her leadership, the Arts Council underwent a period of significant cultural change, with a strong focus on organisational development and staff wellbeing.
She successfully resolved longstanding legacy challenges and brought renewed strategic clarity to the Council’s work. Together with the Council, she secured unprecedented increases in state funding for the arts — enabling artists and organisations across the country to create and present work of outstanding quality. She also championed higher professional standards and fostered a climate of trust and respect across the wider arts sector.
Maureen’s contribution to the arts in Ireland has been transformative and is recognised both nationally and internationally. Throughout her tenure, Maureen has demonstrated the highest levels of integrity and commitment to public service. Her principled approach to leadership and unwavering dedication to the arts community have been defining hallmarks of her directorship.
Cecily Brennan, Chair, An Toscaireacht states:
“Maureen Kennelly is exceptional: an administrator who loves and is deeply knowledgeable about the arts. She understands artists—appreciating the complex and precarious nature of their work and lives. During her time as Director of the Arts Council, funding for individual artists has more than quadrupled, and the innovative and effective ‘Paying the Artist’ scheme was introduced. She will be greatly missed by Aosdána and the wider arts community. We send her our very best wishes for the future.”
The Chair of the Arts Council, Maura McGrath, commented:
“Maureen is truly of the arts. For her, the role of Director was a vocation, not merely a job. Her commitment and passion were evident every day, and are widely acknowledged across the sector. We are deeply grateful for her unwavering dedication and her loyal service to the arts community.”