THE Arts Council of Northern Ireland recently announced funding of £10,8m from its Stability and Renewal Programme for Organisations, to support 168 cultural organisations across Northern Ireland affected as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Six organisation in Fermanagh and Omagh benefitted from this funding, including AJS Promotions Ltd. (£57,352), Donnelly Enterprises Ltd. (£58k), Dun Uladh (£15,250), Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre (£15,325), Fermanagh/Tyrone Brass Band Summer School (£450) and Hambly & Hambly Gallery Limited (£28k).

The programme is part of the £29m NI Executive allocation that was made to the Department for Communities to support the arts, culture, heritage and language sectors which have been severely impacted by Covid-19.

The 168 organisations were offered grants to help them respond to the continuing negative impact of the Covid-19 crisis; the programme was specifically designed to stabilise organisations financially to prevent closure and/or to allow continued delivery of outcomes, and support renewal plans.

Some 39 of the 168 organisations offered funding are first-time applicants to the Arts Council, representing the commercial entertainments sector, and creative industries.

Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: “This announcement of £10.86m of funding will be of benefit to 168 cultural organisations, and the Arts Council thanks the Minister for Communities for making this emergency fund available.

"It is very much needed to help stabilise the wider arts, cultural and entertainment sectors in these difficult times and to plan for eventual recovery.”

Deirdre Hargey, Communities Minister, said: “I know that the arts and creative sectors have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and that this financial support is vital to stabilise organisations and prevent many from closing permanently.

“This funding will eliminate deficits which organisations have accumulated from April 1, 2020, because of reductions in income, coupled with unavoidable ongoing costs.

“The arts and creative industries have an important role to play in helping us all emerge from this pandemic, and this support is designed to stabilise organisations until they can reopen and resume delivering their important benefits to our community.”

This fund marks the third round of funding to provide much-needed financial support to cultural organisations which have been decimated under the lockdown.

The closure of theatres and venues, the cancellation of festivals and events, and the disappearance of live audiences has been devastating to those who work within these sectors, and those who helped drive the regeneration of our local economy.