The article published is an impassioned, individual view of events surrounding the temporary closure of the Ormeau Baths Gallery in Belfast.

In an effort to offer a concise summary, the Council would like to repeat the reasons for its decision to
decline further funding to the former management company of the Ormeau Baths Gallery. That decision
came on the back of repeated failure by the company to ensure that appropriate financial, managerial and
corporate governance structures were in place. Good use of public funds demands these measures, and every effort was made by the Council to assist the company in complying with this duty, but without success.

Once again, the Council would like to assure the arts community that funding for the visual arts remains ring fenced. The Council aims to open the Ormeau Baths Gallery to the public shortly and will manage an interim programme for the gallery space directly, until a new management structure is recruited and in place.

In an upcoming series of public consultations, the Council hopes that people who care about the
future of arts in Northern Ireland will voice their views on how the Council’s next five-year strategy
(2006–2011) should develop.

We would encourage everyone to contribute to the consultation process by visiting our website at
www.artscouncil-ni.org. You can respond online or attend any of the five regional meetings planned across Northern Ireland. All views are welcome in what we hope will be a constructive period of review, leading to a positive vision for the arts for all.