This, despite the fact that at the launch, the Mayor of Derry Alderman Drew Thompson, stated the Playhouse was: "significant in the development of the cultural life of Derry and that the value was not only economic but that the centre contributed to the confidence, self esteem and creative skills of our young people and that culture was at the core of city life."

The Mayor also added that: "The Playhouse was the lead agency in energising the town's creative spirit."

Contributions for the £4.3million project were received from The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, which contributed £1.1million: Heritage Lottery Fund, £1.2million: DCAL/Ilex North West Challenge Fund, £416, 000: The International Funds For Ireland: NITB, £164, 000: The Honourable The Irish Society: Ulster Garden Villages Ltd: Environment & Heritages Services for N.Ireland: Adapt: DETI: Garfield Weston Foundation and The Playhouse which has to raise no less than £416,000 toward the renovation work.

Around 80,000 people use the Playhouse facilities each year and in the last 12 months alone, 3,000 people have recieved accredited arts course qualifications at the Playhouse.

When asked about the lack of council funding for the renovation, Playhouse general manager, Niall McCaughan, stated: "We are happy that the council contributes £12, 000 to our running costs annually, though to be honest, this amount would not make a dent on our electricity bills alone.

"Councillors have generally been supportive but we have been told that there was 'nothing left in the coffers', and that grant funding, as is the case with most arts organisations in the city, is also on a six year standstill."

Mr McCaughan also expressed some dismay that few local funders had been secured for the project.

The funding allocated also suggest The Playhouse is still the poor cousin of its Belfast counterparts.The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure is to allocate £416, 000 toward the Artillery Street redevelopment in comparison to the £3.95 million it provided for the Belfast Opera House (£1.45m for the aquisition of the site and £2.5m for building work), £4million for the OMAC theatre and £3.23 million for the Lyric Theatre.

A spokesperson for Derry City Council explained that the Council does not have a capital development budget for cultural venues, stating: "The Playhouse received funding to the sum of £416,000 as part of the North West Challenge Fund, of which Council is a key partner. The Council's role in the North West Challenge fund is a commitment of its work in partnership with a number of key agencies to strengthen the cultural facilities in the city has to offer.