Judith Cochrane MLA said: “This is excellent news that the Social Development Minister has decided to provide funding for these projects after he had previously decided to cut this grant. I had written to the Minister calling on him to reinstate the money for this Grant, so I am happy that he has listened to and agreed with the arguments from all those who gave their support to the campaign.
“This funding goes towards arts projects such as the Festival of Fools, Out to Lunch Festival, Black Box events and the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, some of which may not have survived without this Grant. These projects really add to the cultural and tourist potential of Belfast that would have been lost if the Minister had not changed his mind.
“The Department did not help this issue as it appears that some of the groups who relied on this funding were not contacted by the Department about the possibility that this Grant may be stopped.”
ENDS