Expectations for funding led to Galway 2020 backlash
Galway City Tribune - The team at Galway 2020 dealt with ‘disappointment, frustration and anger’ on a daily basis because of heightened expectations of organisations regarding funding of projects.
The backlash from arts and other groups involved in delivering programmes for the European Capital of Culture was highlighted by Declan McGonagle, the Department of Culture’s representative on the board.
After the October meeting of the board of Galway 2020, Mr McGonagle emailed Feargal Ó Coigligh, assistant secretary of the Department.
He outlined that since the September board meeting: “We have been able to rejig budgets to ensure funding of projects, harvesting resources from non-programming areas to allocate to programming”.
Mr McGonagle’s email added: “The earlier budget decisions were made as an attempt to provide certainty on the basis of budget as they stood at this stage in the process, albeit still short of complete fundraising being in place.
“However, it became very clear very quickly, as you are aware, that the expectations which had been stimulated earlier, both in relation to bid content (always subject to review as we approach implementation/delivery anyways) and in relation to setting funding allocations to organisations/programmes – with confidence – led to the sort of disappointment/frustration/anger which arose in reaction to those expectations being frustrated.