Arts Council Reveals Breakdown Of Reduced Funding

Twenty seven different organisations and events have had their funding cut as the Arts Council of Northern Ireland implements 11.2% cuts, passed on to it as part of the 2015/16 budget.

Of the 115 applications received by the Arts Council, six requests were turned down completely.

The Arts Council said that with it annual budget from Government cut by £1.38 million to £10.9 million, they have been forced to make "difficult decisions that it believes are necessary to stabilise the arts as a whole". It added that this has been "done with a strategic perspective designed to protect the future, rather than simply applying the reduction in the same way to each arts organisation."

Bob Collins, Chairman of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented: "We informed the sector that our decisions would be made against the clear strategic goals set out in our Five-Year Plan which had been approved by the Minister and which echoes many of the Executive’s wider priorities. These include making excellent art available to everyone, enhancing community benefit and ensuring a fair geographic spread across Northern Ireland.

"However, the reality of passing on a £1.38 million cut to the arts means we are left with a smaller arts sector, with fewer performances, exhibitions, staff and opportunities for people to engage with the arts. The arts make a valuable contribution to all areas of society but regrettably this latest round of cuts will be felt not only directly in arts provision but across tourism, health, community regeneration, social cohesion and the very Government initiatives that are designed to promote equality and tackle poverty and social exclusion."

The full list of organisations being funded can be read here.

(MH/IT)