IN a year in which national companies/ festival have had their budget cut heavily, as with Cork, Limerick organisations do better than hold their own. Seven collectively have succeeded in increasing support by 3.5 per cent and another three are on level pegging with 2014 spend. To put it in €€, an additional €61,000 flows to locally based companies.
Consider it a status statement, hard earned.
The Arts Council issued €1,804,500 here in toto, with predictably, the Irish Chamber Orchestra as primary beneficiary, receiving €860,000. Ev+a International (exhibition of visual plus art) reels in €222,000 and the UL based Association of Irish Choirs €125,000 as did Dance Limerick.
€125,000 ties also with Lime Tree Theatre tranche which has care of No. 69 O’Connell Street, mooted as Limerick Arts & Culture Centre. It’s managed by Lime Tree’s Louise Donlon and team.
Thereafter Limerick City Gallery of Art (€112,500), Limerick City and County Arts Service (€102,000,) Limerick Printmakers (€60,000), Fresh Film Festival (€53,000) and Friars’ Gate Theatre & Arts (€20,000). Limerick Jazz Society got €5,500.
Delighted with the news, arts officer with Limerick City and County Council, Sheila Deegan says “it is an acknowledgement of the increased capacity and ambition of our arts sector. These funds will allow for continued investment in the local sector for the benefit of people living in Limerick and surrounding counties – and those visiting the region”.
Council manager Conn Murray assigned €600,000 in preparation for Limerick’s bid to move from longlist to short to hopefully go on to represent Ireland in the 2020 European Capital of Culture tie with Croatia. Those working out of Culture House, Pery Square are now a consolidated team dedicated to pinning Limerick to shortlist status come October 2015, led by Mike FitzPatrick. See Limerick Post report http://www.limerickpost.ie/2015/01/22/limerick-to-lead-european-culture-2020/
