News - ACNI mounts defence

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) is finalising its response to plans to streamline public sector activities in Northern Ireland. The Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland (RPA), launched by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure at the end of March, threw up the possibility of scrapping ACNI and devolving its grant-giving responsibilities to local government.
ACNI has held a number of public meetings and has collated responses from the sector for its response. Themes that emerged, include a fierce defence of the arm?s-length principle as a means of keeping political influence out of arts funding. Contributors expressed fears of a ?balkanisation of the arts? if an alternative model was introduced whereby funding was administered by local authorities. Concerns were also raised about the potential the shake-up could have on quality control, with funding and strategy placed in the hands of non-specialist arts administrators. Other anxieties have been expressed about the politicisation of Lottery funds and the potential dissipation of international and cross-border arts activity. ACNI?s submission will form a major part of the RPA, which closes in September with final conclusions expected later this year.