The arts sector in Northern Ireland faces its bleakest year in a decade according to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI), which has had its budget frozen by Government for the third successive year. The value of core funding allocated to 73 arts organisations across Northern Ireland is similarly at a standstill, and the decline in Lottery resources available for the arts (see p1) is likely to compound financial difficulties for the sector.
At the recent launch of its plans for 20082011, ACNIs Chair, Rosemary Kelly, expressed concerns about the levels of Government funding for the arts: Delivering on this Five Year Strategy will require Government to invest in arts and culture in Northern Ireland in a way which provides parity of treatment with other parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Our request to Government is to raise the per capita spend on the arts from £6 to £10, which is an increase of approximately £20m for the 2008 to 2011 funding horizon. This year Northern Ireland received £6.13 per head of population in comparison, while Scotland received £11.93, England £8.09, Wales £8.81 and the Republic of Ireland the equivalent of £14.16. ACNI has been invited to meet with the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee for further discussion about the situation.
Published: 26-03-2007