Northern Ireland rallies to save the arts

Arts supporters from across Northern Ireland took to the streets at Stormont this week to protest against the Northern Ireland Executive’s draft Budget for 2008–2011. The rally, which saw hundreds of people gather to make a public call for increased arts funding and present a letter to Barry McElduff MLA, Chair of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee, was part of the Keep Arts Alive campaign, organised by Northern Ireland’s arts sector and supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. It has been lobbying for an additional £26m investment over the coming three-year spending period, and the Executive’s current proposals for an uplift of only £4.25m, including only £500k for next year, is set to plunge the arts sector into immediate financial problems. The Arts Council has already had to close its Multi-Annual Programme, which supported 56 arts organisations, and has notified district councils that they have become a low funding priority. To support the campaign, go to www.keepourartsalive.com