News

Arts Matter NI – Letter to Minister Carál Ní Chuilín – Department for Communities regarding Chancellor’s £1.57 billion funding for the arts

Posted on 7th July 2020

Minister Carál Ní Chuilín Department for Communities Causeway Exchange Belfast via email private.office@communities-ni.gov.uk 7th of July 2020 RE: Retention of Emergency Funds Dear Minister Ní Chuilín On behalf of the steering group of Arts Matter NI may we congratulate you on taking up your new post and indeed renewing your role in the stewardship of… Continue Reading

Public consultation is now open for Draft 5-year Strategic Framework for Developing the Arts 2019-2024

Posted on 15th January 2019

Have Your Say! Public consultation is now open! Draft 5-year Strategic Framework for Developing the Arts 2019-2024 The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has developed its draft Strategic Framework for the Arts 2019-2024 in consultation with the arts sector and key stakeholders, as well as our partners in local and central government, and the wider… Continue Reading

Arts funding levels in Northern Ireland compared to our nearest neighbours

Posted on 8th June 2018

ArtsMatterNI convenor Conor Shields, offers an update on the disparity between funding levels in Northern Ireland compared to our nearest neighbours. In light of new cross party political support to pursue equality of funding, this is the challenge facing government and indeed us all. We are not #WorthLess . Stop the Cuts. Find the Money.… Continue Reading

Belfast City Council support for campaign demands welcomed by #ArtsMatterNI

Posted on 5th June 2018

Belfast Telegraph article www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/theatre-arts/belfast-council-weighs-in-against-cuts-to-northern-ireland-arts-funding-36977891.html #ArtsMatterNI Press Release Press Release ArtsMatterNI 05-06-2018 (docx) Continue Reading

Northern Ireland arts groups demand equality in funding as budgets slashed (news article)

Posted on 31st May 2018

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/northern-ireland-arts-groups-demand-equality-in-funding-as-budgets-slashed-36943880.html Continue Reading

Conor Shields, Convenor of ArtsMatterNI, writes about conflict of interest and the chair of the Arts Council in the Belfast Telegraph

Posted on 8th May 2018

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/the-chair-of-the-arts-council-believes-the-creative-sector-should-wean-itself-off-public-subsidy-while-seeking-it-for-himself-he-must-go-36883210.html Continue Reading

Conor Shields on the announced Arts Council NI Annual Funding Programme 18/19

Posted on 10th April 2018

Conor Shields, convenor of the #ArtsMatterNI campaign, on the recently announced Annual Funding Programme 18/19 from the Arts Council NI. And click below to view the full list of organisations offered Annual Funding in 2018/19 ACNI Annual Funding Decisions 2018-19 (pdf) Continue Reading

The Big Arts Debate at Stormont on 19th February 2018

Posted on 22nd February 2018

After the debate, Conor Shields, CEO of Community Arts Partnership, had a few more words to add. Conor Shields, CAP’s CEO and Convenor of #ArtsMatterNI, spoke after #TheArtsDebate pic.twitter.com/NASXoMVrco — Arts Matter NI (@ArtsMatterNI) February 20, 2018 Continue Reading

ArtsMatterNI in the News

Posted on 20th February 2018

www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/02/19/news/arts-sector-in-north-needs-investment–1259014/ www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/campaign-to-save-arts-funding-from-death-by-a-thousand-cuts-gathers-momentum-at-stormont-36621424.html www.newsletter.co.uk/news/northern-ireland-arts-sector-needs-investment-1-8384360 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09rz34n – David Boyd – Beat Carnival – 1 hour 13 min in to the programme Continue Reading

Statement – 5th February

Posted on 5th February 2018

Members of The Arts Matter NI campaign are deeply concerned to read unconfirmed reports in the Belfast Telegraph (2nd February) of “no confidence votes and walk-outs in opposition to the Chair John Edmund”, by the majority of the Board of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Given the Arts Sector’s profound anxiety about… Continue Reading

View the ArtsMatterNI document for DFC 2018 (pdf)

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Download the Campaign Toolkit (zip) Download the #ArtsMatterNI logo pack (6mb)

On Twitter

Tweets for #ArtsMatterNI
Pintsized Ni 2 days ago
& create pieces from artists of the here and now. . Thank You for being a great supporter of ours, TY for the help & advice you offer & TY for this opportunity! #theatre #theatrecompany #belfasttheatre #emergingartists #artsmatter #cityscapes #artsmatterni #artsmatter #ACNI
Conor #Shielding 3 days ago
@Mi_Bonn I’d say, as the minister’s statement noted, that we will hear of next funding schemes and process within the week. I’d also say that the £25m now remaining will probably be wholly inadequate to meet need ergo no chance of this cash going back to HMG. #artsmatterNI

On Facebook

Alastair Kerr
1 month ago
WeMakeEventsNI is staging a show of numbers in Belfast City Centre on Friday 25th September, this is not just about the crew and equipment suppliers it’s everyone involved in putting on events, FOH staff, Bar staff, Box Office, Catering, Stage / Set construction, Security, Plant Hire, Printers .... the list is endless.

The general public and politicians really have no idea of how many people it takes to put on a event.

As of today we have only 180 people signed up - seriously folks, if we can’t get 300+ then we stand little or no chance of keeping our industry alive.

This is a call to action from #WeMakeEventsNI. We want you, our industry professionals, to attend!

This event will be Covid-compliant, with social distancing measures and all attendees wearing face masks. To ensure the safety of the event, pre-registration is mandatory.

Full event details and registration on the Eventbrite link!

wemakeeventsniinterimcta.eventbrite.co.uk

#WeMakeEvents Northern Ireland - Interim Call To Action
EVENTBRITE.CO.UK

#WeMakeEvents Northern Ireland - Interim Call To Action
This is a CALL TO ACTION from #WeMakeEventsNI.

We want YOU, ... See MoreSee Less
#WeMakeEvents Northern Ireland - Interim Call To Action
wemakeeventsniinterimcta.eventbrite.co.uk
This is a CALL TO ACTION from #WeMakeEventsNI. We want YOU, our INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, to attend.
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Arts Matter NI
4 months ago
So, finally a ray of light in the gloom. £33million of this £1.57bn should come to us here by way of Barnett consequentials. The Executive must now decide that this money, morally and economically, must be ringfenced for those most in need, not just the institutions that are struggling, but for the freelance arts workers, facilitators, events workers, programmers, actors, designers etc ... the people upon whom this whole creative sector relies. For now, the breath of hope inspires us to look forward. Ring fence the money, please and give this fragile creative eco-system the help it desperately requires. The Arts Matter!

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/05/boris-johnson-uk-lifeline-arts-heritage-sector-afloat ... See MoreSee Less
Boris Johnson pledges £1.5bn lifeline to keep UK's arts sector afloat
www.theguardian.com
Industry welcomes ‘surprisingly ambitious’ sum for museums, galleries, theatres and music venues
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Arts Matter NI
5 months ago
Richard Boyd Barrett , TD, speaks out for support for all arts workers in the Republic.

We need support here in the North right now. With all due respect, arts workers need more than just piecemeal monies that might stop and start, or one off payments that preclude other offers of support. The arts workers of NI need ongoing sufficient funds to assist them and their families through this crisis.

For the majority, they will have no possibility of income until at least step 4 or 5 of the reopening process announced this week. That may be months in coming.

This is an industry that generates huge social value and economic benefits yet has only received an additional £1m of support. It needs an another £4m every 3 months according to the recent Arts Council report: that’s an additional £16m minimum p.a. never mind what workers in the film industry, or creative education might also need to get by.

Let’s see this debated in the Assembly and help arts workers here gain the recognition and support they need.

We welcome and are grateful for the financial assistance that has been offered so far, but it falls so far short of what’s actually needed to get art workers through this crisis.

Support the arts, support arts workers.
Find the money. Fund the arts.
#artsmatterni ... See MoreSee Less
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Arts Matter NI
6 months ago
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has published their report on the impact of Covid-19. Loss of earnings over this 3 month to May was calculated at £3.97M - when DfC has offered £1M in mitigation funding - which looks altogether too little to cope with the fall off in revenues and the effect on artists, communities and organisations.
www.artscouncil-ni.org/images/uploads/publications-documents/ACNI-Coronavirus-Survey-Findings-Sum... ... See MoreSee Less
www.artscouncil-ni.org
www.artscouncil-ni.org

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Arts Matter NI
7 months ago
We welcome this message and the assurances offered. As a sector however, we hope that DfC quickly releases a budget for the incoming year which in turn will provide ACNI with the basis to support the sector in these increasingly uncertain times.
Thank you for all your efforts in valuing and advocating for our artists and their organisations. ... See MoreSee Less
Message from Arts Council Chief Executive | Arts Council of Northern Ireland
artscouncil-ni.org

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