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MU Responds to Proposed Cuts to Arts Council of Northern Ireland Budget

Arts organisations in Northern Ireland have been told that their annual funding available from the Arts Council could be cut by 10%.

Published: 21 April 2023 | 11:15 AM Updated: 21 April 2023 | 1:43 PM
Close up of 'Fund the Arts' placard from one of the MU's previous Arts Council Funding marches.
To even suggest such cuts will put at risk the jobs of musicians across Northern Ireland. Image credit: The MU ©

The Musicians’ Union is deeply concerned by the proposed cuts to the budget of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and of organisations in its’ Annual Funding Programme. The budget year has already begun, and to even suggest such cuts will put at risk the jobs of musicians across Northern Ireland.

The budget of Arts Council of Northern Ireland is already incredibly poor per capita when compared with Arts Council England, Arts Council Wales and Creative Scotland. To threaten to reduce the funding of organisations which are already facing high inflation and the problems presented by Brexit, whilst still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, is reckless in the extreme.

The Musicians’ Union will be writing to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Communities and to the Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to urge them in the strongest terms to reverse these proposed cuts before it is too late.

Add your voice to the call: fund the arts

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Arts Council England has made major cuts in public funding to arts organisations. The UK's music sector needs more investment to keep it world leading and protect the working people at its heart.

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