Derry's City of Culture year has been dealt another blow with the resignation of a key director of the city's Culture Company.
Anna Cutler, who is also a director with London's Tate Gallery, stepped down just weeks before the Tate's Turner art prize exhibition opened in the city, the first time it has ever been staged out-side England. Ms Cutler, a high-profile figure in British cultural circles, has not spoken publicly about her reasons. However, sources close to the Culture Company say she was unhappy with what she perceived to be a lack of communication.
It is understood that she was particularly unhappy with the response to appeals for information about a decision to wind the company up three months earlier than had been originally agreed.
With fewer than three months of culture year remaining, ms Cutler's departure is the latest in a series of behind-the-scenes blows which have dogged the project.
A source close to the Culture Company - which was tasked with delivering the first UK City of Culture year - said: "Anna raised questions about a decision to wind up the Culture Company in march next year rather than June which could have limited the Culture Company's input into the project's legacy for Derry.
"When she failed to receive a response she decided to leave."
A spokesman for the Culture Company said ms Cutler had resigned for personal reasons which she wished to keep private.
He moved to allay fears that her departure could impact on the Turner Prize exhibition which opens later this month or the awards night on December 2.
The spokesman said: "Her action has had no impact whatsoever on the running of the Turner Prize."
In march City of Culture project director Dermot McLaughlin quit just five months after being appointed to the position.
In another key personnel crisis before Culture year even started, its head of marketing, Garbhan Downey, was suspended.
His suspension last October came after he spoke out when Derry City Council chief executive Sharon o'Connor moved to have the Culture Company's marketing staff transferred to her control.
In a letter to the Culture Company chief executive, Shauna McCarthy, ms o'Connor ordered that the marketing staff, with the exception of mr Downey, move to the council headquarters.
The culture project has also suffered embarrassing episodes.
While this year's Fleadh Cheoil na heireann is considered the jewel in the crown of the entire year, moves to bring it to Derry initially suffered setbacks when some members of its organising body objected to the UK aspect of culture year.
* RESIGNATION: Anna Cutler
* YEAR OF SHOWS AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES DRAMAS: Right, from top, Dermot McLaughlin, Garbhan Downey, Sharon O'Connor and Shona McCarthy. Left, some of the Derry City of Culture year events