Campaigning for the Arts

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s request to government is to raise the per capita spend on the arts from £6.13 to £11.55, per head of population, which is an increase of approximately £26m for the 2008 to 2011 funding horizon.

This investment is crucial if we are to develop further our seed bed of artistic talent and innovation, and if Northern Ireland is to continue to develop creatively.

 

Circus at the launch of "Invest in Inspiration"

 

Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, announced in March that government has decided that the Olympic Games will be partially funded through National Lottery proceeds. This development is extremely worrying, as it comes at a time when the arts in Northern Ireland can least afford it. The Lottery provides an essential source of money for the arts, particularly in Northern Ireland where mainstream government funding has been frozen for three years at the lowest per capita rate in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Lottery income for the arts in Northern Ireland has been in steady decline, and the shortage of money is now being felt directly by arts and community projects, with the situation likely to become worse. Annual income from the Lottery for arts in Northern Ireland has fallen from £10.3 million in 1997/98 to £7.96 million in 2006/07. Following the announcement by Tessa Jowell, Lottery income for the arts in Northern Ireland is now estimated to fall to £4.74 million by 2012.

The Arts Council will of course continue to argue passionately on behalf of the sector for increased funding from government and impress upon our political leaders the need for a positive settlement in this summer’s public spending review to compensate for the reduction of National Lottery funds.

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