Queen's University and the SDLP have deplored a decision by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to cut by half funding for the Belfast Festival at Queen's.
The Arts Council has reduced financial support for the annual November international arts festival from £140,000 (€202,800) to £69,500, claiming it was forced to take the action because of decreased funding from the North's department of culture, arts and leisure.
It costs over £700,000 to run the festival and there is concern the reduction in support could diminish the stature of the event.
Funding comes from a variety of sources, with the Arts Council and Queen's the biggest contributors, most providing about £140,000 in support. T
The Belfast Festival also receives money from Belfast City Council and through private sponsorship. It suffered a blow two years ago when its long-standing main sponsor, Guinness, withdrew.
For many years, the festival was the sole major arts event in Northern Ireland, continuing to operate and bring top-level artists to Belfast through the worst years of the troubles. This point was made by SDLP MP for South Belfast Dr Alasdair McDonnell yesterday. "I think this is a tragedy. The Belfast Festival at Queen's for years was a beacon of cultural hope and light through the darkest days of the last 35 years," he said.
Dr McDonnell said the department of culture, arts and leisure and Belfast City Council should "cough" up more money.
A statement from Queen's University said it was "deeply disappointed". "This decision undermines the city's efforts to develop itself as a cosmopolitan, outward-looking cultural capital."
