Arts Council to be asked to explain denial of funding to Mullingar

Members of Westmeath County Council have criticised the Arts Council for its lack of financial support for the Arts Centre in Mullingar.

They now want an Arts Council representative to attend a county council meeting to explain why Mullingar is being bypassed for funding.

Arts Centre chairman, John McGrath, in a presentation to members of the council at their February meeting, held last week, claimed the centre is not being funded to the same extent as other art centres around the country.

“The Arts Council gave us a grant of only €15,000 in 2019. We were turned down for a grant in 2020,” he said.

Mr McGrath said in response to queries raised by councillors that the cost of running the centre amounts to around €225,000 on top of the [€140,000] allocation from the county council.

He said the centre has over the years submitted applications under different funding streams to the Arts Council and with some of them it has been successful.

“The last number of years we haven't [been successful],” he said, saying that in 2021 the reasons given for the refusal were “ridiculous”, one being that given the number of people the centre was dealing with, it couldn't possibly give a good experience to users; the second being that the centre had decided what drama it would do with schools participating in the schools programme rather than letting the children decide.

Council cathaoirleach Aengus O’Rourke declared himself disappointed at the revelation: “I know that it takes a lot of voluntary hours to make this happen and to carry out the great work that you do right throughout the course of the year,” he said.

Council director of services Mark Keaveney confirmed that out of the “substantial” fund of €47m the Arts Council distributed to 106 organisations in 2022, no funding came to Mullingar.

By contrast, the Backstage Theatre in Longford received €240,000 and Roscommon Arts Centre received €121,000.

“We are of the view that it would be worthwhile for Mullingar Arts Centre to engage again with the Arts Council to seek some of this funding,” Mr Keaveney said.

He also stated that the executive of the county council would favour “regular engagement” with the arts centre “regarding their operations and plans, including exploring potential sources of funding” as happens with both the arts centre in Athlone and the Athlone Regional Sports Centre.

Mr Keaveney revealed that the county council’s allocation to the Arts Centre for 2023 amounts to €140,000.

“Based on the latest accounts, this subvention would cover over 70% of the overheads costs of Mullingar Arts Centre,” he stated.

Mr McGrath responded that the board would be “delighted” to sit down with the council executive to discuss funding.

Cllr Mick Dollard – one of three council nominees on the board of the Arts Centre along with Cllrs Frank McDermott and Liam McDaniels – suggested that while the centre itself could liaise with the Arts Council, it would also be worthwhile for the council to invite the Arts Council to a meeting of the county council to discuss funding of the arts in Westmeath.

Cllr John Shaw supported this view, contending that it would provide an opportunity for the council to learn the reasons why Mullingar is not getting its fair share of funding.

Cllr Louise Heavin wanted to see a transcript of the refusal reasons so the council could see were the Arts Council’s requirements onerous; Cllr Bill Collentine wanted to know how the Arts Centre makes up for the shortfall; Cllr Ken Glynn also supported Cllr Dollard’s proposal, saying that the problem with the Arts Centre is not a new one, but one that stretches back in time.

Also in support of Cllr Dollard’s proposal was Cllr Liam McDaniel, while Cllr Denis Leonard used the word “apartheid” to describe the way Mullingar is being treated and Cllr Frank McDermott said the treatment is “appalling”.

Cllr Hazel Smyth suggested that other funding sources also be looked at to cover items such as the cost of improving accessibility or increased energy costs while Cllr Frankie Keena suggested that the centre forge greater links with the Technical University of the Shannon (TUS).