Spelling out a new future for the arts Radical reshaping of funding follows a year of review The Arts Council today unveiled the most far-reaching reform of arts funding in ten years. Announcing funding to target wider participation, increased support for artists and launching three new Lottery schemes, Prof Brian Walker, Chairman, described the allocations as "an inspired budget for the arts in what is still a climate of under-funding". A new profile of support for the arts
Prof Walker issued his statement as more than £5.6 million went directly to 146 arts organisations across Northern Ireland. He earmarked an extra £300,000 for Individual Artists and outlined new forms of Lottery funding to make £3 million available speedily to arts organisations. "Arts Council staff have responded quickly to the priorities set by the new Council and have found ways to increase support for cutting-edge and community-based arts, as well as stabilising the larger arts organisations traditionally supported by the Council," Prof Walker said. "By being imaginative and forward-looking with our Lottery capacity, we have released a higher percentage of our revenue funds directly to arts organisations from within our existing budget, over and above our grant from the Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure. In total, we have released a further £800,000." Council Chief Executive, Roisín McDonough, described how funding was shaping up according to the strategic recommendations of the Everitt Report. "This budget shows the profound influence of Prof Everitt’s recommendations," she said. "We have begun the integration of Lottery funding into achieving art form objectives; we are supporting the individual artist, extending participation for all and we are directing arts organisations to develop new audiences for their work. Our announcements reflect the reprofiling of our funding to target our new strategic priorities."
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