‘Local arts sector must benefit from funding’

The British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, recently announced a £1.5 billion support fund for cultural, arts and heritage institutions and that the Northern Ireland Executive would subsequently receive £33 million.

Addressing the committee, the SDLP councillor said:

“We as councillors and we as a council should be leading the charge for cultural organisations across this city and district to get a fair share of that £33 million.

“Details at the minute are quite sketchy. We don’t how the money will be allocated. We don’t know if £33 million is going to come down to cultural organisations.

“Council must take the lead on this. We must represent the cultural organisations and the arts organisations across this city and district.”

The Ballyarnett representative continued: “We need to lobby the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that the entire £33 million actually filters down to arts organisations, cultural venues and individuals across the sector.

“And we need to lobby the relevant department or agency, which could be the Department for Communities or the Arts Council, to ensure that venues, organisations and individuals across our city and district get a fair share of that funding.”

Councillor Farrell concluded: “I am aware that £50 million previously came from London as a result of a £1.2 billion allocation to councils in Britain. But, it didn’t all get down to councils - I think it was around half of that.

“So in this instance, I would hope that the £33 million that has been sent to Stormont actually reaches the organisations, individuals and venues that need the money.”