Greater Shantallow Community Arts has funding axed

A charity has described the loss of more than £65,000 in funding as yet another “devastating blow” to the arts sector in Londonderry.

Greater Shantallow Community Arts said it was shocked after being told The Executive Office (TEO) at Stormont was withdrawing funding.

The group operates Studio 2, a community theatre and dance space in Derry.

Director of Arts Ollie Green said: “Devastated doesn’t even begin to describe the impact.”

TEO has been asked for comment.

The arts group said it would have to pay off a key employee as a direct result.

Mr Green told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme that TEO officials had, over the years, praised the work his group carried out.

“That leaves us even more dumbfounded by this terrible decision,” he said.

Uncertainty around Arts Council funding also continues.

The group said it had not yet received any letter of confirmation regarding its application for funding.

The Arts Council said it was liaising with the Department for Communities in terms of its budget for the arts for 2025/2026.

People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin condemned what he called this “shocking decision” by the Executive Office to slash funding from Studio 2.

“Another attack on workers, on the arts, on needed community resources and Derry and the north west,” he said.

Earlier this month, a Derry-based dance company said a decision to axe 100% of its funding had come as a “great shock”.

Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company said a funding application for more than £112,000 had been turned down by the Arts Council and it would have to close if the decision was not reversed.