The Stage

Dublin’s Abbey Theatre has funding cut by more than €1 million

Published Wednesday 3 February 2010 at 16:16 by Anthony Garvey

The Abbey Theatre is the highest profile casualty in the share-out of annual funding by the Irish Arts Council, losing more than €1 million of last year’s grant.

The cutback reflects the reduced level of state support for the arts, as outlined in the recent budget by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan. The Arts Council’s allocation was cut from €73.35 million in 2009 to €69.15 million for the current year, a reduction that, ironically, was greeted with relief as many had expected much harsher treatment, given the plight of the Irish economy and calls by economists for an axe to be taken to culture spending and even for the arts ministry to be abolished.

However, the reality of the budget cut, even if less than swingeing, is that more than 300 companies will have their funding reduced this year, according to figures issued this week by the Arts Council. In its allocations, the Council says “emphasis was given to achieving a regional balance, on enabling the arts to reach more people, and on supporting artists to make work”.

Overall theatre funding for the year has been cut from €16,311,000 to €13,327,000. The Abbey takes the largest share of that - its allocation has been reduced from €8.35 million last year to a current figure of €7.25 million. Opera also loses, with funding cut from €3.9 million to €3.6 million, as do dance and music.

As part of the regional emphasis, both local arts and festivals and events each receives funding of over €2 million, though that is less than last year. Street arts and spectacle, as well as circus, also win financial support, though again at a reduced level. In all, 313 companies face funding cuts, with just 24 having the same level of financial support as last year.

However, the council did have some good news to announce: it has established a new fund for touring and has reduced its overall administrative budget by 30% from its 2008 level.