Northern Ireland Draft Budget Announcement

15/12/2010

TThe Arts Council of Northern Ireland learned today that the headline figures from the NI Draft Budget include a 9.3% cut to the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) over the four year period.

The detail of DCAL’s spending plans is yet to be revealed and the Arts Council cannot comment on how public spending on the arts will be affected at this time.

The public consultation on the draft budget has commenced and will continue until 9 February with the intervening Christmas and New Year holiday period to be taken into account.

The Arts Council will continue to advocate for a fair and proportionate deal for arts funding in Northern Ireland. It is important to note that funding decisions by the NI Executive and Assembly may be influenced during this period and therefore, public support for the value of the arts to the economy and to society has never been more important than now.