Belfast arts centre at risk amid funding uncertainty

The future of the Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC) in Belfast is in doubt over concerns that Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ANCI) might cut its funding.

ANCI is the centre’s main funder, granting it more than £1m annually for the past three years. But an ongoing review risks jeopardising this funding in future, BBC News NI reported.

During the review period, which was scheduled to finish at the end of July, the MAC has been funded by ACNI on a quarterly basis.

Two external audits of financial management at the centre have also been conducted.

In the most recent accounts for the MAC, filed on 1 January 2023, an independent auditor said there was “a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the group and the parent charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern”, the BBC found.

The accounts also said the MAC board was forecasting a deficit of £150,028 for the year ending 31 March 2023.

The MAC said it was “engaged in ongoing discussions with funders” about “the most efficient way to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the MAC”.

“We are confident of a positive outcome in the very near future,” a spokesperson said. “In the meantime our shows, exhibitions and events all continue as usual.” 

SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite said Belfast City Council wants to ensure the MAC’s long-term future, adding that it is “worth saving”.

He said sustained budget cuts in the arts risk a “devastating impact” that will “take years to rebuild”.

“We have a lot of concerns about making sure we protect Belfast's cultural and arts spaces and the MAC is one of those,” he said.

“We want to make sure it has long-term viability to keep the doors open. I think it's really, really important that we don't lose any of those types of spaces.”

He added that the centre has a positive impact on the local economy in terms of returns on spending and job creation.