Echo Echo dance and theatre company
According to Echo Echo dance theatre company, the Arts Council has cut 100 per cent to its annual funding.
The money is provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Annual Funding Programme.
The company said the declined funding of £112,910 would have contributed to three full-time staff salaries and building overheads at Echo Echo Studios for financial year 2025/26.
A statement on its Facebook page on behalf of Echo Echo’s board, staff and artists said: “This decision comes as a great shock to all involved in the company.
“We are currently assessing the impact that this cut will have on the future of Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company and our home studios.
“We will be meeting with ACNI to discuss this decision soon.
“This is an immediate existential threat to the company but we expect to continue all of our current programmes and keep Echo Echo Studios open and staffed for at least the next three months as we consider all of our options.
“The company has no outstanding creditors and sufficient unrestricted funds for this period.
“We will be reaching out to all of our key stakeholders to discuss the impact of this decision in the coming days.
“We will appreciate your support in the days ahead.”
An Arts Council spokesperson said: “As an Arts Council client and multi-grant recipient, Echo Echo Dance Company has accessed funding from many of our programmes, including the Annual Funding Programme (AFP).
“Unfortunately, with disappointment this year Echo Echo did not receive 25-26 AFP funding. We are seeking a meeting with Echo Echo on their immediate plans.
“We want to reassure the dance community in Northern Ireland that public investment in dance in the Derry City and the North-West region remains a priority and we will be working to ensure that provision for dance continues.
“The Arts Council hopes to announce details of this year’s 2025-26 AFP clients once our annual funding allocation is known.”
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