The Dublin based Contemporary Music Centre (CMC), which, since 1985, has provided promotion, archiving and support services to composers of new music across the whole island of Ireland, will be withdrawing its services for composers from Northern Ireland from the end of this month.
Earlier this year, CMC failed to submit an application for funding to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) to support the organisation?s work and consequently received no funding. CMC has claimed, however, that the withdrawal of services is the result of ACNI indicating that support for composers in Northern Ireland should be provided locally, an accusation ACNI denies. A spokesperson for ACNI said, ?The CMC failed to receive funding, not because of a change of strategic direction in the Arts Council?s support for new music, but because they simply missed the deadline for funding. The Arts Council has subsequently met with composers in Northern Ireland and intends to put in place an alternative support service to ensure the continued promotion and representation of Northern Ireland composers.?
Published: 06-09-2004