Doubts for the future of the Irish National Ballet.
The Irish National Ballet (INB) company are in the process of rehearsing for their spring season which is currently running at the Cork Opera House.
A recent decision by the Arts Council to cut the company's funding has cast a cloud over the future of ballet in Ireland. When these dancers bow out on their final night tomorrow it may be for the last time.
The INB are the only national arts organisation based outside Dublin, and the removal of the £420,000 annual grant will impact communities all over the country. As administrator Muriel Large explains,
Our principal commitment is to the smaller places of Ireland.
This sentiment is echoed by company founder Joan Denise Moriarty, who maintains that a decentralised model is the most effective way for the public to have access to the arts.
The people have a right to be able see all these different artistic ventures.
Dick Hill is the general manager at the Cork Opera House. The news of INB’s apparent demise has thrown the venue's schedule planning into disarray as the company is one of their regular clients. He describes the news as,
Devastating
The future is also uncertain for the Firkin Crane Centre in Cork’s historic Shandon. Purchased by the Arts Council in 1981 it was gifted to the INB to be used as its permanent home and is currently under restoration.
Joe McHugh is a member of the INB Board of Trustees and believes the funding issue needs to be brought to the government’s attention,
It must get state support.
Artistic Director Anneli Vuorenjuuri-Robinson tells Shay Healy that negative reports from the Arts Council about the INB’s standards are unfounded. Dancer Caoimhe Ní Éinigh is also very disappointed by the Arts Council’s decision and does not understand the reasons behind it.
Joan Denise Moriarty queried the appointment of two Arts Council dance officers from the start. They admitted their lack of expertise in the field.
How can the dance officers give an opinion on standard and technique of a company when they admit they know nothing about dancing?
This episode of 'Evening Extra’ was broadcast on 22 April 1988. The presenter is Bibi Baskin and the reporter is Shay Healy.
