The Arts Council has established an advisory group to help address the COVID-19 crisis in the sector.
Its members include filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson, musician Martin Hayes, journalist Fintan O’Toole and public health specialist Dr Gabriel Scally.
The board of the Arts Council has established the group for a short term to identify ways to deal with the pandemic.
It says the group is made up of "leading expert voices from the arts and other sectors including public health, economics and media."
The group will also obtain independent input from economist Alan Gray.
It will meet several times over the next few weeks, beginning on Friday.
The council says their discussions will inform a report on "specific measures and government supports needed to help the arts sector survive the current crisis."
Lenny Abrahamson arrives at the 2013 Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA's). Photo: Laura Hutton/RollingNews.ieThe group will address issues such as what is the scale of the emergency financial package that the arts sector will require from government
It will also look at how arts organisations can emerge from lockdown, implementing social distancing protocols as necessary.
Arts Council chair Professor Kevin Rafter says: "The board of the Arts Council recognises the scale of the crisis in the arts sector.
"We have asked the advisory group to consider the huge challenges now facing artists and arts orgnisations.
"We know additional funding will be needed but we also want to consider what other steps are required to ensure the sector survives this crisis."
"The specific nature of arts practice means that the arts sector is especially affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
"The arts has always been about bringing people together to engage with the work of artists - physical distancing presents a real challenge.
"We need to find new ways to allow work to be made and presented while acknowledging the significant loss of box office income."
Analysis from the Department of Public Expenditure has identified the arts and entertainment as one of the sectors most affected by the shutdown.
An estimated income of €6.4m will be lost from cancelled activities to the end of May.
