04 Mar €275,500 in Arts Council funding for Mayo Art Centres – Dillon

– Ballina Arts Centre to receive €50,500;

– Linenhall Arts Centre to receive €225,000;

– Part of €7.8million fund benefitting 43 centres.

Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Alan Dillon, received confirmation that two Arts Centres in Mayo will receive funding in excess of €275,000.  The Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar will receive local Arts Council funding of €225,000.  In addition, a further €50,500 has been awarded to Ballina Arts Centre.

Deputy Dillon said; “It is excellent to see this funding being announced by the Arts Council and only forms their first round of investments this year.  This funding in excess of quarter of a million euro will certainly benefit the excellent work being done to lift the spirits of Mayo communities throughout the pandemic.  It is excellent news locally for the Linenhall Arts Centre and Ballina Arts Centre.  The funding is part of a €7.8million allocation benefiting 43 centres across the country.”

Deputy Dillon added: “I should point out that the Arts Council have also said that in the weeks ahead, it would award around €10.7 million to arts organisations through its Arts Grant Funding programme.  This will also be supplemented by €2 million in smaller festivals in almost every county from its Festivals Investment Scheme; and a range of other supports for arts organisations struggling to survive the Covid-19 pandemic.  For individual artists, there will be some €10.5 million in bursaries; €5.6 million through a new Agility Award; as well increased funding for commissions and projects.”