A £4 million lifeline for the arts sector announced yesterday will help fight the short-term impact of the coronavirus lockdown, it has been claimed.
However, there have been calls for a long-term strategy to the put the sector on a solid footing.
Communities’ Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said the £4 million would provide a “much-needed” boost for musicians, performers and cultural workers as well as arts venues and museums as they re-build lockdown.
However, the cash injection falls short of the £24 million package sought by the sector through an appeal to the Stormont executive last week. Anne McReynolds of Belfast’s MAC Theatre told a Stormont committee that, with the closure of all arts and entertainment venues, the lockdown had left the sector facing “obliteration”.
Arts organisations have called for the establishment of an immediate hardship fund for people involved in the sector who missed out on other government supports.
Ms Ní Chuilín said the £4 million lifeline to help arts and cultural organisations recover came as the sector prepared for the phased re-opening of libraries and museums.
“The pandemic has exposed the financial vulnerability of our arts and cultural organisations, many of whom are household names. As an immediate next step, I intend to engage directly with organisations to agree the detail of how the funds might best be put to swift use,” the minister said.
On a visit to Belfast’s Lyric Theatre, Ms Ní Chuilín said the arts funding was part of an additional almost £23 million package which would include £4 million for to tackle homelessness, £4.5million for community support and £2 million for the sports sector.
“In the coming weeks, I intend to widen the conversation about what kind of creative future we want here. I am encouraging performers, audiences, businesses and political parties to join me in those conversations about a creative future that is fair and inspiring,” she said.
SDLP social justice spokesman, Mark H Durkan said the funding package was welcome but more was needed.
“This £4 million will no doubt assist the sector in the short term. However, we need to be looking at the bigger picture of long-term funding for the arts sector which will inevitably be hit harder than most by restrictions as we emerge from this crisis,” Mr Durkan said.
