How Many Arts Festivals Were Canceled Due to Funding Shortages Despite €9M Arts Council Spending on Consultants Since 2019

Something is rotten in the heart of the arts council.

The Arts Council are in the news a lot this week because of their antics around building an IT system that had to be scrapped after already pouring €5.3 million into a digital black hole.

The Irish Times revealed today that the Arts Council has spent €9m on consultants since 2019. The Arts Council's primary function is to fund, develop and promote the arts in Ireland, not consultants’ pockets So, I was wondering how many arts and music festivals have been cancelled due to lack of funding since 2019.

The Scene + Heard

Indiependence

Siamsa Tíre

Body and Soul and the Life

Sea Change

Wild Roots

Forever Young

Playing Fields

Far West Fest

Doolin folk festival

Richard Harris Film Festival

Limerick’s Pigtown Festival

The Promenade Festival

All Together Now

Ballina Salmon Festival

Queen of the Land Festival

French festival

The list is endless. I didn’t list all of them, but it’s 40+ since 2019.

If you were on a committee for any of those festivals, who couldn’t get funding while the Arts Council were blowin…