19/07/2010
In the current financial climate, the Arts Council regrets that it is not in a position to commit the funds necessary to support the six-month representation at the 2011 Venice Biennale of Visual Art.
The Arts Council, in partnership with the British Council, has supported Northern Ireland's representation at the past three Venice Biennales, with a group exhibition in 2005 and solo exhibitions by Willie Doherty and Susan MacWilliam in 2007 and 2009 respectively.
This difficult and disappointing decision has been reached in light of the reduction to the Arts Council 2010/11 budget of �1.1 million and the Chancellor's Budget Announcement of 22nd June 2010 which provides a broad indication of how the public spending cuts will be applied to the spending departments in Britain: in real terms, 25% reduction over four years.
At this stage we do not know what part of the cuts will be borne by the devolved administrations and, while we will not know the definitive position until the GB Spending Review is completed and announced on 20th October, this sets the tone and context. Undoubtedly the Arts Council will have further difficult funding decisions and priorities to establish, and consequently cannot commit the funds necessary to deliver an exhibition at next year's Venice Biennale.
