Museum professionals in Northern Ireland are warning of the sustained effects of political instability as its government’s lack of a power-sharing arrangement reaches its first anniversary this month.
Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government since power-sharing between the DUP and Sinn Féin collapsed after the latter walked out of government last January.
Sinéad McCartan, the director of the Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC), says the political situation has resulted in fewer chances to bid for in-year funding.
“Normally, we would have two or three opportunities to bid for funding during the year,” she says. “And we just haven’t had that opportunity.”
McCartan says museums are awaiting confirmation of reduced funding for upcoming years. “We don’t have opportunities to engage with ministers because there are no ministers in place,” she says.
The NIMC itself was part of a review of arms-length bodies that has recently been parked. “We don’t know the results of that until the [relevant culture] minister sees the initial findings and makes the decision as to how the review goes forward,” says McCartan.
‘Live within your means’
McCartan says the NIMC, which provides grant assistance including an acquisition fund for Accredited museums, has been advised by government to live within existing means.
“We don’t really have a lot of choice,” she says. “It has been disappointing not to avail of in-year funding opportunities, and then there’s the uncertainty going forward, and not knowing what the change to our budget is going to be. It would be wonderful to think it would be stand-still on this year.”
Margaret Edwards, museums and visitor services manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council, says the political situation is having an impact on local government services, including museums.
“As a local authority museum service, we raise our budget through local government taxation, but we also rely on central government money,” says Edwards. “The absence of a devolved government in Northern Ireland has led to some challenges getting budgets signed off and [getting] funding confirmed, which can have an impact on service planning.
“We are also reliant on funding from other bodies that are waiting on the executive to release their own budgets and that can have an impact,” she adds. “There is a lot of uncertainty around what happens. If we don’t have our devolved government and we return to direct rule, [we don’t know] whether or not money for museum services will be placed high on their agenda for funding and support.”
The uncertainty over the Irish border due to Brexit is also an ongoing issue.
Responding to the news that her local authority’s joint bid with Belfast City Council to host the 2023 European Capital of Culture was no longer valid, Edwards says: “You can imagine there is a lot of concern and uncertainty around, but we are committed to doing what we can to continue with the positive work we are doing, and to proceed with developing and advancing the projects that are set out in our strategic growth plan.
“Museums are all looking at innovative ways in which to mark a number of significant anniversaries leading up to 2022, including the anniversary of the partition of Ireland. This will present opportunities for museums to reflect on the past 100 years and look ahead to the future.”
Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government since power-sharing between the DUP and Sinn Féin collapsed after the latter walked out of government last January.
Sinéad McCartan, the director of the Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC), says the political situation has resulted in fewer chances to bid for in-year funding.
“Normally, we would have two or three opportunities to bid for funding during the year,” she says. “And we just haven’t had that opportunity.”
McCartan says museums are awaiting confirmation of reduced funding for upcoming years. “We don’t have opportunities to engage with ministers because there are no ministers in place,” she says.
The NIMC itself was part of a review of arms-length bodies that has recently been parked. “We don’t know the results of that until the [relevant culture] minister sees the initial findings and makes the decision as to how the review goes forward,” says McCartan.
‘Live within your means’
McCartan says the NIMC, which provides grant assistance including an acquisition fund for Accredited museums, has been advised by government to live within existing means.
“We don’t really have a lot of choice,” she says. “It has been disappointing not to avail of in-year funding opportunities, and then there’s the uncertainty going forward, and not knowing what the change to our budget is going to be. It would be wonderful to think it would be stand-still on this year.”
Margaret Edwards, museums and visitor services manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council, says the political situation is having an impact on local government services, including museums.
“As a local authority museum service, we raise our budget through local government taxation, but we also rely on central government money,” says Edwards. “The absence of a devolved government in Northern Ireland has led to some challenges getting budgets signed off and [getting] funding confirmed, which can have an impact on service planning.
“We are also reliant on funding from other bodies that are waiting on the executive to release their own budgets and that can have an impact,” she adds. “There is a lot of uncertainty around what happens. If we don’t have our devolved government and we return to direct rule, [we don’t know] whether or not money for museum services will be placed high on their agenda for funding and support.”
The uncertainty over the Irish border due to Brexit is also an ongoing issue.
Responding to the news that her local authority’s joint bid with Belfast City Council to host the 2023 European Capital of Culture was no longer valid, Edwards says: “You can imagine there is a lot of concern and uncertainty around, but we are committed to doing what we can to continue with the positive work we are doing, and to proceed with developing and advancing the projects that are set out in our strategic growth plan.
“Museums are all looking at innovative ways in which to mark a number of significant anniversaries leading up to 2022, including the anniversary of the partition of Ireland. This will present opportunities for museums to reflect on the past 100 years and look ahead to the future.”