Departing Belfast Festival boss vents dismay at ‘disgraceful’ Northern Irish culture spend
The departing artistic director of Belfast International Arts Festival (BIAF) has expressed frustration at the lack of political w…
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Audience data got us thinking about grocery shopping
Do we have a problem with engaging audiences? Or do we just think we do? Áine McCarron from the Northern Ireland research and eva…
Historic Royal Palaces recruit to ensure site remains a ‘world-class’ visitor destination
Northern Irish estate Hillsborough Castle and Gardens is to welcome its new head from January, celebrating the incoming leader’s “…
Dance company’s ‘driving force’ departs after 24 years
MAGS BYRNE will step down as artistic director of Northern Ireland’s only dedicated dance development company next year, after l…
Drama festival calls off its 40th year event, vowing 2027 return
A drama festival meant to be marking its 40th year in existence has been forced to cancel, thanks to a water leak at its home venu…
Belfast International Arts Festival welcomes city’s former cultural strategist
CHRIS MCCREERY will take the helm at Belfast International Arts Festival as its new artistic director and chief executive, succeed…
Arts Council Northern Ireland portfolio stokes £104m in GVA
Investment from Arts Council Northern Ireland (ACNI) generates almost double its value in economic activity, a new report commissi…
Pipe band leader secures another term on board of Arts Council Northern Ireland
Communities minister GORDON LYONS has reappointed RAY HALL as a member of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland board from 1 Septem…
Derry arts group loses appeal against funding cut
Londonderry/Derry-based performing arts theatre Greater Shantallow Community Arts Centre (GSCAC) has lost its appeal against a dec…
Youth choir to close after loss of arts council funding
Members of National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland (NYCNI) have been told organisation will shut following the loss of its annual…
Dance company loses appeal over 100% funding cut
A Northern Irish dance company has lost its appeal against a decision to axe 100% of its funding from Arts Council of Northern Ire…
CEO of Arts & Business NI to depart after 17 years
CEO of Arts & Business NI (A&BNI), MARY NAGELE, has announced that she will step down later this year to “pursue…
Northern Irish musical instrument scheme receives £750,000 boost
Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced new funding worth £750,000 for individuals, bands and groups a…
Trustee reappointed to National Museums NI
WILLIAM MCMULLAN has been reappointed as a trustee to the board of National Museums NI, the body that looks after four separate mu…
Northern Ireland’s arts sector worse off now than before peace agreement
In 2000, political leaders described the arts as essential to building a shared future. Why, then, is Northern Ireland’s arts se…
ACNI announces annual funding awards with ‘modest uplift’
Art Council Northern Ireland (ACNI) has announced the grant recipients from its Annual Funding Programme (AFP) for 2025/2026, prov…
Equity pushes for increased funding for arts in Northern Ireland
The performers’ union Equity has used its annual conference to campaign for a real-terms increase in funding for Arts Council Nort…
Northern Irish dance company loses core funding
A Londonderry-based dance company has lost all its funding from Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI). Echo Echo, which had prev…
Nandy orders review of Music Export Growth Scheme
A government-backed scheme supporting emerging musicians in overseas markets will be reviewed following outcry over comments attri…
NI rural arts programme improves well-being and reduces isolation
A programme to increase arts engagement in rural Northern Ireland has been successful in reducing isolation, enhancing well-being…
Visitor attraction numbers draw closer to pre-pandemic levels
Visitor numbers to the UK’s leading attractions reached 157.2 million in 2024, according to figures published by the Association…
Artists living in ‘relative poverty’ warns Arts Council Northern Ireland boss
Artists in Northern Ireland are living in “relative poverty” and having to take on several other jobs to pay the bills, the ch…
ACNI confirms board reappointments
The Department for Communities has reappointed several members to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) board for an additio…
Chair of Northern Ireland’s arts council ‘set for departure’
The current chair of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland will not be reappointed when his term ends next week, according to a rep…
