The Arts Council today received confirmation that approximately 17,000 responses campaigning for no more cuts to the arts budget were received as part of the 2015/16 Budget Consultation. 

This represents a third of the total submissions made. The overall number of responses in support of the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, including the arts, reached 23,000 - the highest level of support in the public consultation exercise - yet DCAL’s budget was cut by 10% in real terms.  By comparison, Education received 21,200 submissions and an additional investment of £65m by the NI Executive.

In terms of the overall budget cuts, it is bewildering that the smallest department, that of Culture, Arts & Leisure, despite receiving the largest submissions of public support for issues pertinent to its arms-length bodies, received one of the biggest cuts of 10% and is passing on 11.2% of this to the arts.

We are deeply disappointed that, despite this obvious demonstration of public support, the arts budget is now facing an 11.2% cut in 2015/16. This reduces the Executive’s investment in the arts from 13p to just over 11p per person per week. 

Despite the bad news, a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to publicise the 13p campaign, and to those who signed postcards, took part in the online petition and wrote to the Executive.

As the arts face an increasingly uncertain future we would ask you to continue to take every opportunity to showcase the value of the contribution the arts make to our local politicians and decision makers. 

http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/news/update-on-2015-16-budget-for-the-arts