The arts are a vital part of Galway’s economy and the city’s financial well-being, so funding for the city’s arts organisations should not be cut in the next Galway City Council budget.
This is the view of Labour councillor Billy Cameron. Labour’s city councillors will be meeting the Galway City Council’s director of finance Edel McCormack today to discuss the arts grants and sports grants for 2011.
Under the 2011 Draft Annual Budget, which is to be discussed by councillors next Monday in City Hall, the arts grants to the city’s various festival, theatre, literary, and visual arts groups are to be cut by 10 per cent, from €435,000 to €391,500.
However Labour is concerned about the decrease and, according to Cllr Cameron, the party is looking at other areas where cuts can be made, in order to keep the arts grants at their current levels.
“Galway is one of the most vibrant arts cities in the country in terms of the visual arts and drama with things like the TULCA Festival, Druid, and the Galway Arts Festival,” he told the Galway Advertiser. “The arts is an industry and should be seen as one and it is important to Galway and it is a vital part of the Galway economy.”
Cllr Cameron said Labour will also be seeking to prevent any cuts in grants to the city’s sporting clubs and organisations. “Clubs need to maintain the current levels of their quality of service,” he said, “and be properly catered for.”
