Glasgowy awarded funding

The ‘small but massive’ festival is one of 15 organisations announced by the council to become ‘new’ clients this year.

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, In Your Space, Terra Nova, Craft and Design Collective and Happy Days Enniskillen International Beckett Festival in Fermanagh were also awarded cash in the annual funding allocation.

In total awards mounting to £13.6million have been made to 109 arts organisations across the province to cover running costs and programming through the Arts Council’s Annual Funding Programme.

Last year the Arts Council redesigned its Annual Funding Programme to provide better support to the sector during the challenging public funding situation in order to provide greater stability for clients as they forward plan.

It is a mark of our clients’ resilience and commitment that they continue to maintain the highest quality performances and events.

The Annual Funding Programme streamlines public funds from DCAL with the National Lottery income in a single annual application process, offering arts organisations a simpler one-stop-shop approach to funding.

Bob Collins, Chairman of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “The Arts Council funding announced today represents a major investment of public money in securing the availability of a wide range of arts activities to everybody in Northern Ireland.

“In difficult economic times, it is a statement of real confidence and of real commitment to the importance of the arts for everybody. Expanding access to the arts and ensuring that real efforts are made to bring the arts to all are key priorities for the Arts Council.

“This is how the value of the arts can be enjoyed by everyone and how their potential for enriching people’s lives and promoting the economy can be fully realised.”

Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented: “The annual funding programme helps support arts organisations across Northern Ireland, from grassroots community arts organisations such as New Lodge Arts Academy and Belfast community Circus School, to major cultural venues such as The Lyric and The MAC. All of these organisations rely on public funding to support their day-to-day work and their annual events programmes. With the reduction of Executive funding for the arts set to continue, serious challenges still remain ahead for an already acutely underfunded sector.”

Northern Ireland’s arts organisations contribute across all sections of society, including important community regeneration projects and valuable work in schools and healthcare environments. With the funding they receive from the Arts Council, they continue to play a key role in rebuilding the economy and providing the distinctive creative assets that give Northern Ireland its ‘stand out’ appeal.

Visit www.artscouncil-ni.org for a full list of Annual Funding Awards 2013/14.