ARTS COUNCIL OF NORTHERN IRELAND BOARD MEMBERS' STATEMENT As Board Members of the Arts Council, we are aware of the comments made by the Chair of the Arts Council at the Arts and Business Awards event last week. His comments do not reflect any discussion or position which had been agreed by the Arts Council Board. It is therefore our understanding that the Chair was speaking as an individual. We note the Arts Council Executive’s response to the budget issued last Friday and we look forward to a detailed discussion at the next Board meeting on how we will… continue reading
[wpi_designer_button text='jump to the list of AFP organisations endorsing this statement' link='https://www.artsmatterni.co.uk/news/arts-matter-ni-statement-on-the-projected-arts-cuts/#afpporg' target='self'] Arts Matter NI, as the sector-wide campaign to save arts funding, held a sectoral meeting on 18th January in NICVA and now wishes to make this statement as a reflection of that event. DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS There comes a time in the ancient lingering execution lingchi, or Death by a Thousand Cuts, when the prisoner begs for the final stroke to end the torture. The only good news is that today as… continue reading
Buttons! It’s been such a turbulent time over the past months and colleagues have been asking when the next Captain’s blog would appear. It’s been flat out hectic not just for the organisation I run but right across this sector and indeed every publicly-funded sector. But there is some response that this sector needs to make in light of the news of a further imposition of austerity cuts by our proxy government (the NI Civil Service) and their masters, the Conservative Government in Westminster, whose position is maintained by a confidence and supply arrangement offered by our… continue reading
For Arts Organisations within the Voluntary Community & Social Economy sector and co-facilitated by CAP and the Interaction Institute for Social Change … this seminar will consult on a range of issues facing the arts sector in particular. This seminar is part of a wider conversation which Building Change Trust is initiating about the future of the VCSE sector. Stakeholder sessions The focus of discussions will be on identifying key issues, exploring these in more depth and generating solutions. It is planned to invite participants to reflect on the main themes which emerged from an initial workshop in October together… continue reading
Community Arts Partnership held focus groups internally and externally with organisations and individuals to develop this response. CAP, whilst a community arts organisation, hopes to offer insights from the widest possible sector and not just particular silos within. Read Community Arts Partnership's further response to the Delivery plan/PFG Consultation below... CAP-DFC-PFG-Consultation-Responses-Dec-16 (pdf) www.capartscentre.com… continue reading
We welcome the opportunity to contribute to the establishment of a Framework for the new Programme for Government – 2016-2021. We recognise the aims, to tackle disadvantage through promoting economic growth; we are encouraged by the orientation which suggests collaborative working, where government will work with all sectors of society to deliver improvements in people’s lives and appreciate that new approaches are being offered to achieve these goals. We make our submission as a contribution to this new strategy. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL RESPONSE… continue reading
Tuesday June 28th at Duncairn Culture and Arts Centre Location: Duncairn Culture and Arts Centre (map), Duncairn Avenue, Belfast, County Antrim. BT14 6BP. Time: 9.30am for a 10am start. To conclude 12.30 at latest We know the Arts Matter, and placing the arts at the heart of the programme for government and across the outcomes and pathfinders will be a key consideration for us all over the next mandate. Many AFP clients of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, will have had a date in their diary open up recently: ArtsMatterNI wants to ask all those who were disappointed not… continue reading
By David Young. Belfast Telegraph. Government departments in Northern Ireland have been asked to draw up plans to implement cuts of up to 10% to their budgets, the Belfast Telegraph has learned. The Department for Finance and Personnel has contacted each department requesting they draw up scenario plans to implement 5%-10% cuts. A Stormont committee heard yesterday from officials at the Department for Social Development that a 10% cuts programme could mean fewer face-to-face services, longer waits for benefit assessments, and even a moratorium on the dredging of the River Lagan. And officials from the Department for Culture, Arts and… continue reading
By Robbie Meredith. BBC. A museum may close if the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) budget is cut by 10% in 2016/17, assembly members have been warned. A briefing paper, drawn up for the DCAL committee, also warns that arts organisations would "face closure". It said there would be "significant" staff cuts in sporting organisations. The paper also warns that libraries and museum galleries would close, and that the Public Record Office (PRONI) would face a reduction in services. 'Murder picture' UUP MLA Leslie Cree, who sits on the DCAL committee, called the potential effect a "murder picture".… continue reading
Since October last year ArtsMatter NI has been trying to marshal a campaign to see increased investment in the arts and stability in funding arrangements. Since the Arts Policy Forum meeting way back in September at NICVA last year. Arts Matter NI was seeking support from the sector in order to see a range of lobbying and campaigning initiatives emerge. Representatives from the group approached a range of organisations across the region and asked for their support both in terms of campaigning but also for funds to help finance the campaign. From the get-go it had been envisaged that… continue reading