In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, September 1, the Event Industry Alliance (EIA) has revealed that it is "deeply concerned that it was excluded" from a meeting held between the National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA) and Ministers Catherine Martin and Stephen Donnelly earlier this week.

The meeting, which focused on the future of live gigs, was described as "very open and constructive" by the NCFA.

The EIA, however, have now called 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".

"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," the EIA's statement reads. "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," the EIA continue. "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 earlier this year, in response to the Covid-19 crisis – and is made up of the AOIFE, EIAI, EPIC, MEAI , EII, ISG, AIST, EIST and IIHF groupings and all their members, which include event management companies, event organisers, concert and festival promoters, contractors, venues, musicians, entertainers, technical support and more.