Arts Rally at Stormont
200 people came together outside Stormont this week to demand more arts funding. The protest was sparked by an in-year cut to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Matt Mackey - PressEye.comArts Rally at Stormont
The turn out included a range of artists and performers carrying placards highlighting their anger at the current funding situation.
Matt Mackey - PressEye.comArts Rally at Stormont
Those protesting say that cuts the arts sector faces are disproportionate and that they place performances, productions and jobs at risk.
Matt Mackey - PressEye.comArts Rally at Stormont
Addressing the gathering, writer Glenn Patterson said: 'This isn’t a whinge, this is cold fury.'
Matt Mackey - PressEye.comArts Rally at Stormont
Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure Carál Ní Chuilín welcomed the show of support for the arts but said that unfortunately she is dealing with a reduced budget within her department.
Matt Mackey - PressEye.comArts Rally at Stormont
The Culture Minister later heard directly from some of the campaign's representatives in a brief meeting in the Great Hall at Stormont, and agreed to meet again in the forthcoming weeks.
Matt Mackey - PressEye.comArts Rally at Stormont
The Arts Matter NI campaign said: 'We want to make sure there are adequate funds to maintain the current arts infrastructure and support the development of a creative economy that can build jobs, artistic opportunities, health, well-being and educational achievement.'
Matt Mackey - PressEye.com
Arts Matter NI Rally at Stormont in Pictures
Artists and arts organisations assemble outside Parliament Buildings to protest