Arts and culture set to slip down Northern Ireland funding agenda
Government plans to limit arts funding in Northern Ireland have been greeted with dismay by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI). The recently released Draft Priorities and Budget 2006?2008 for Northern Ireland reinforces budget cuts introduced last year while demanding efficiency savings from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and for arts funding to have a greater impact on other Government agendas. DCAL?s arts budget will fall from £14m this year to £13.3m next year and £13.2m in 2007/08. The funding cuts will hit ACNI at a difficult time, coinciding with the ongoing Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland (RPA), which is expected to report within the next month about the possibility of dismantling ACNI and devolving arts funding and administration to local authorities. ACNI is urging arts organisations to protest at the proposals, arguing that ?the important contribution made by the arts to the social, cultural and economic prosperity of the region is poorly reflected in the proposed spending plans.? A consultation period to debate the spending plans closes on 5 December.
The cuts were announced as part of a programme of spending designed to re-set priorities for Northern Ireland, cutting public spending on infrastructure in favour of ?front line? public services. As part of this programme, DCAL has been instructed to ??protect, nurture and grow our cultural capital for today and tomorrow, and thereby make a significant contribution to wider government priorities in health, education and the economy? To this end, rationalisation and modernisation will continue to be key to sustaining both existing services and developing new programmes of activity.? Similar plans last year were approved by Parliament in Westminster, followed by an outcry from the arts community at the imposition of cuts while the devolved administration was suspended. Despite positive steps in the peace process in the past twelve months, there are no immediate signs that devolution will be restored in the immediate future and there is a likelihood that a devolved administration would honour these budget plans in any case.
Launching the budget, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain said, ?We do not have unlimited resources, and we must use them wisely. In simple terms, we need to decide what is important to do, and then do it well.? A spokesperson for ACNI referred to the disparity in arts funding per head of population between different parts of the UK. Projected grant spending per capita for 2006/07 in Scotland and Wales will be £8.80, in England £8.19 and in Northern Ireland £6.13.