Search

18 Oct 2025

Derry dance company Echo Echo has funding review request rejected by Arts Council

The dance theatre company had its core funding completely cut back in May

 Echo Echo funding cut 'vindictive and unacceptable'

Echo Echo

Derry dance theatre company Echo Echo has had a funding review request rejected by the Arts Council.

The local arts group had 100% of its annual funding cut by the Arts Council in May.

The company said the declined funding of £112,910 would have contributed to three full-time staff salaries and building overheads at Echo Echo Studios for financial year 2025/26.

Echo Echo today revealed that its appeal to overturn the funding cut has been rejected by the Arts Council.

In a statement on its Facebook page, Echo Echo they were 'extremely disappointed' by the decision.

They also revealed they will be taking their case to the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman.

“Many of our partner organisations in the arts and community sectors are understandably afraid to make any public statements in case their funding will be cut next time,” the company wrote.

“Echo Echo is working with Derry City and Strabane District Council and looking at various other funding options to continue through the 2025/26 financial year.

“In a further effort to get this decision reversed, Derry City and Strabane District Council have invited senior officers of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to attend the DCSDC Business and Culture Committee monthly meeting on Tuesday 8th July at 4pm at Strabane Council Chambers to explain the decision and to answer questions on it.

“Echo Echo would welcome people to join them at that meeting (outside Council offices in Strabane) to show public support for the company. People can find out more by getting in touch with Echo Echo via its website or on social media.

“Arts Council NI annual funding was the core funding base upon which Echo Echo has successfully levered many dozens of other grants and partnership funding for over 20 years. Without this ongoing principal support and form of assurance for other funders, and in an exceptionally competitive funding environment, sourcing replacement ongoing support at the level required is a massive challenge - even for a company of Echo Echo's high quality artistic programmes and excellent financial management.”

Echo Echo thanked everyone who donated to Save Echo Echo campaign and paid tribute to the “small dedicated team of directors, artists and staff who have been working around the clock trying to keep the company alive”.

The Arts Council has been contacted for comment.

To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!


Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.

Subscribe

To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.


Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!

Register / Login

Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.

Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.