The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Arts Council, Professor Brian Walker, has called on the Government to consider additional arts funding as new figures indicate Northern Ireland falls behind the rest of the UK on per capita spending. At an Arts Council meeting last week, Professor Walker said the figures ‘tell a bleak story and describe a level of neglect which is, frankly, unacceptable.’ In the period 2002/03, revenue funding for the arts in Northern Ireland fell by £249,149 from 2001/02, while England, Scotland and Wales all experienced an increase in arts spending. Northern Ireland currently spends £4.34 per capita on the arts, while England spends £5.90, Wales £6.43 and Scotland, £6.69, according to figures from the Arts Council. Professor Walker said it was time arts communities across Northern Ireland got a break from persistent funding hardship. ‘We now urgently need additional funding, so that we can at least be treated equally on per capita terms with our colleagues and fellow artists in Great Britain,’ he said. According to Professor Walker, the Arts Council has been constantly lobbying for increased funding on behalf of the country’s cash-strapped arts organisations. ‘The Council has been consistently seeking additional funds from government,’ he said. ‘While we are aware of the many claims upon the public purse, our collective commitment remains to securing the achievements of our artists and arts organisations, while developing new talents and new creative enterprises.’ ‘Neither of these can be achieved while the annual budget for the arts actually decreases.’ Arts Minister Michael McGimspey announced an additional £335,000 in arts funding last month, but said resources were ‘scarce’. The funds were allocated to initiatives designed to promote Northern Ireland creativity both nationally and internationally, and included the establishment of an independent crafts development unit, consolidation of the Early Years scheme and events promoting Northern Ireland arts internationally. In addition, research to measure the contribution of arts to the economic, social and cultural life of Northern Ireland was also named as a priority for the funds. Related Article Arts funding receives boost in Northern Ireland, but resources 'scarce'