The Arts Council has recently released two new additions to its ‘Value of the Arts’ pamphlet series: The Case for Elitism by Emer O’Kelly, and The Siren Alps by John McAuliffe. These commissioned essays prompt writers to respond to the results of the Council’s major survey The Public and the Arts (2006), which provided a fascinating look into the attitudes and behaviour of Irish people and the arts. However to date the tenor of most of these responses is journalistic or overtly polemic in tone, and these new arrivals are no exception… perhaps reflecting the need for more vigorous independent research in the sector to support, challenge, or qualify the findings of the study? Food for thought…