Tuesday June 28th at Duncairn Culture and Arts Centre Location: Duncairn Culture and Arts Centre (map), Duncairn Avenue, Belfast, County Antrim. BT14 6BP. Time: 9.30am for a 10am start. To conclude 12.30 at latest We know the Arts Matter, and placing the arts at the heart of the programme for government and across the outcomes and pathfinders will be a key consideration for us all over the next mandate. Many AFP clients of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, will have had a date in their diary open up recently: ArtsMatterNI wants to ask all those who were disappointed not… continue reading
By David Young. Belfast Telegraph. Government departments in Northern Ireland have been asked to draw up plans to implement cuts of up to 10% to their budgets, the Belfast Telegraph has learned. The Department for Finance and Personnel has contacted each department requesting they draw up scenario plans to implement 5%-10% cuts. A Stormont committee heard yesterday from officials at the Department for Social Development that a 10% cuts programme could mean fewer face-to-face services, longer waits for benefit assessments, and even a moratorium on the dredging of the River Lagan. And officials from the Department for Culture, Arts and… continue reading
By Robbie Meredith. BBC. A museum may close if the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) budget is cut by 10% in 2016/17, assembly members have been warned. A briefing paper, drawn up for the DCAL committee, also warns that arts organisations would "face closure". It said there would be "significant" staff cuts in sporting organisations. The paper also warns that libraries and museum galleries would close, and that the Public Record Office (PRONI) would face a reduction in services. 'Murder picture' UUP MLA Leslie Cree, who sits on the DCAL committee, called the potential effect a "murder picture".… continue reading
Since October last year ArtsMatter NI has been trying to marshal a campaign to see increased investment in the arts and stability in funding arrangements. Since the Arts Policy Forum meeting way back in September at NICVA last year. Arts Matter NI was seeking support from the sector in order to see a range of lobbying and campaigning initiatives emerge. Representatives from the group approached a range of organisations across the region and asked for their support both in terms of campaigning but also for funds to help finance the campaign. From the get-go it had been envisaged that… continue reading
artscouncil-ni.org The Arts Council of Northern Ireland welcomes the Minister’s announcement that she has successfully secured additional funding resources for the arts in the November monitoring round. The Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure has been able to confirm that £620,000 will be allocated to the Arts Council to reinstate grants to the 32 organisations affected by earlier in-year cuts. We appreciated greatly the opportunity to meet with the Minister in October when we conveyed the Arts Council's and the sector’s deep concerns at the impact of the in-year reductions. There will be a sense of relief shared by… continue reading
allianceparty.org Alliance South Belfast MLA Anna Lo has welcomed the reinstatement of funding for a number of arts organisations after the Culture Minister restored money to the Arts Council. Ms Lo was speaking after Carál Nί Chuilίn announced the passing of an Assembly budget meant £620,000 would be given to the organisation, which will subsequently feed it out to groups such as the Lyric Theatre, MAC, Grand Opera House and Ulster Orchestra. The Alliance MLA said arts groups deserved praise, after their lobbying for the funding to be restored over the past number of months. "The affected organisations… continue reading
News Letter. The announcement of a £620,000 funding package to boost 32 arts organisations has been welcomed by the Arts Council – with a further £320,000 going to Sport NI. Many local arts bodies and projects have been severely affected by budget cuts over the last financial year. The new funding has been provided by the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) after the money was reallocated by the finance department during the NI Executive’s November monitoring round. A spokeswoman for the Arts Council said the money would be used to “reinstate grants” to organisations who had grants withdrawn.… continue reading
By Robbie Meredith. BBC News. Recent funding cuts to 32 of Northern Ireland's biggest arts organisations have been reversed after the Stormont executive's November budget. The groups had been told they would lose 7% of their planned funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. But after this month's budget, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) said £620,000 would be restored to the Arts Council for the groups. Culture Minister Carál Nί Chuilίn said she was "delighted" to offer the money. Those who will benefit include the Lyric Theatre, the Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC) and the Grand Opera… continue reading
Arts Matter NI is delighted and relieved by this week’s news that Carál Ní Chuilín, the Minister for the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, has been able to reinstate funds of £620,000 to the arts budget, part of the November Monitoring Round reallocation of funds. It was this most recent in-year funding cut that led to Arts Matter NI organising a rally at Stormont on Tuesday 3rd November. The rally protested against employment loss, job insecurity, the skills exodus and the end of much valued programmes delivered to disadvantaged communities right across Northern Ireland. Good news as… continue reading
Niall McCaughan Chief Executive Officer of The Playhouse in Derry being interviewed on Breakfast Radio Foyle. Interview starts at around 35 minutes. Click on the image… continue reading