More cuts on the way for Derry’s Playhouse Theatre
JOBS could be lost at Derry’s Playhouse Theatre as arts organisations across the North are facing more budget cuts.
The Arts Council has told 32 of the North’s largest arts organisations to plan for in-year cuts of up to 10 per cent to their budgets.
Those affected include the Playhouse Theatre in Artillery Street and Belfast-based the Lyric Theatre, the MAC, the Grand Opera House, NI Opera and the Ulster Orchestra.
The Arts Council’s own budget was slashed by 11 per cent in March.
Now the Playhouse is bracing itself for more cuts.
The Arts Council has now been asked by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) to prepare for further cuts.
The department is headed by up Sinn Fein Minister Caral Ni Chuilin.
As a result, it has asked its major clients to consider how they might save money.
In a letter to each of the 32 organisations, the chief executive of the Arts Council, Roisin McDonagh, said that the cuts were deeply concerning.
She said that asking the organisations to plan for cuts of eight to 10% “is both a necessary and prudent request”.
“Accordingly we would ask you and your board to to consider how you might apply up to an indicative 10% cut in your current year’s grant from the Arts Council and assess the impact this will have on your programmes, staffing, services, audiences/participants etc,” she said.
“I would be grateful if you could furnish us with this information by Thursday 20th August.”
However, the letter also said that the Arts Council is awaiting “clarity” from DCAL on any cuts.
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