Lyons: Arts can't be just for 'select group' as he praises Young Farmers' clubs for self-funded displays of art, creativity and music

Stormont’s culture minister says a huge section of the arts community in Northern Ireland is entirely self-sufficient – and warned that the sector cannot “just be for a select group of people”.

Gordon Lyons was speaking to the News Letter after calls from some within the creative industries for his resignation over their claim that not enough public money is pumped into the sector.

placeholder image — Actress and playwright Roisin Gallagher (centre) joins fellow actors, playwrights and members of the creative industry at a protest outside the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, where they delivered a letter of No Confidence in Communities Minister Gordon Lyons. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

However, the DUP minister says that much of Northern Ireland’s cultural life is entirely self-funded – citing performances by the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster.

Trade union Equity, who organised a protest outside Stormont on Tuesday, said the arts sector has faced “severe financial instability” due to funding cuts and called for an arts policy to be signed off by the executive.

They called for the Assembly to “recognise the Minister’s failure to provide effective political leadership” and “to provide sustainable investment to secure the future of Northern Ireland’s arts and cultural sector”.

Mr Lyons told protestors that he had taken “some really tough choices and cut back on some essential services” – but had protected and increased arts funding.

Asked by the News Letter whether the arts sector could become more self-sufficient, the minister said there is “a huge section of the arts community that's entirely self-sufficient”.

Mr Lyons said: “I have so many examples as I've been out and about of communities that organise and fund their own arts projects and get young people involved in the arts.

“I think, for example, of the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster, entirely self-funded, and they put on fantastic displays of art and creativity and music. You see that in so many different areas that, actually, people aren't dependent upon upon funding”.

The DUP MLA said there are circumstances where the it is appropriate for government to step in, and he wants to help because the arts “have the potential to improve life for people in Northern Ireland, to improve health and educational outcomes as well”.

“But we need to put the money where it's going to make the biggest difference and where it's needed most, and I think it can’t just be for a select group of people either”, the East Antrim MLA said.