City councillors approve €400k grants for arts groups

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway city councillors have approved grants worth €400 thousand for arts groups across the city.

At a meeting last evening, it was outlined how this year’s funding package covers 65 organisations, both professional and voluntary.

The largest allocations include €46 thousand for the Galway Arts Festival, €35 thousand for Galway Arts Centre, €28 thousand for the Druid Theatre Company and €20 thousand for Macnas.

But some councillors argued that the overall figure is far too low, given the importance of the arts sector to Galway.

City Council management said each year, they invest some €6m in the arts and cultural sector – and not just the €400 thousand.

But Councillor Niall McNelis feels the figure should be doubled to €800 thousand.