Galway 2020 has secured more than €20 million in funding for next year’s European Capital of Culture programme.
The news comes after members of the Galway County Council received a presentation from Galway 2020’s CEO Patricia Philbin and creative director Helen Marriage during the monthly meeting at County Hall.
The breakdown of the funding sees €15 million coming from the Department of Culture, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht, with €6 million and €2 million being provided by the Galway City Council and the Galway County Council respectively.
Ms Philbin told councillors that nearly €13 million of the funding would be going into the 2020 programme with €1 million being set aside for legacy events by the Department.
Ms Philbin said; “The majority of the spend is on the [2020] programme. But we are always looking at other sources of funding from the likes of national organisations and other Government departments. We have very positive feedback from businesses [for sponsorship]. Tourism Ireland is a big one [for us] for level of focus. [Galway 2020 is] representing Ireland and we need full support.
“There is another potential €1.5 million of funding available via the EU Melina Mercouri prize and there will be a meeting soon to decide this and we are confident of securing this.”
The Athenry-Oranmore area councillor James Charity queried whether Galway 2020 would be asking for more funding from the Galway County Council than the specified €2 million.
The Galway County Council chief executive Kevin Kelly responded; “When issue of funding was first asked, it was understood for €2 million. But there may be a further ask. A full amount [of funding] has not been defined.”
