Chair of Northern Ireland’s arts council ‘set for departure’
The current chair of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland will not be reappointed when his term ends next week, according to a report in the Belfast-based Irish News.
Liam Hannaway was appointed to the role in 2021 by Sinn Féin’s Deirdre Hargey, the former Stormont communities minister.
Hannaway is understood to be the only member of the board not in line for reappointment for another term.
Reappointments to the board are expected to be announced before 31 January by the current communities minister, the DUP’s Gordon Lyons.
The Irish News reports that a source said there was “widespread shock” within the arts community about the decision, which appears to be “potentially political”.
The source said: “Liam is a genuine lover of the arts, and a robust, experienced and effective negotiator in their favour.
“It’s a shocking revelation to the sector that he won’t be continuing in his role, at a time when the arts budgets in NI are continually cut by the executive, and when they would benefit most from strong and constructive advocacy.
“It feels like a poorly motivated and arbitrary decision, rather than one based on merit and performance.”
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