The Director of the Arts Council, Patricia Quinn, has today announced her decision to resign her position.
This announcement follows the publication by the Council yesterday of a statement that it intended to set aside the Council's five-year strategy, the Arts Plan 2002-2006.
The Arts Council Chair, Olive Braiden, said yesterday: "It is the intention of the Arts Council to set aside the Arts Plan 2002-2006 as soon as Council has completed an intensive examination of its current priorities and goals.
"This process has already begun. This will ensure that the Arts Council facilitates and responds to the needs of artists, arts organisations and the public."
In her letter of resignation, Quinn said: "I fully support the authority of the Council in decision-making. However, in circumstances where the Council's precipitate action overturns Government policy and is contrary to the considered advice of its executive, I am in honour obliged to give notice of my decision to resign my position as Director."
Quinn was appointed to the position of Director in November 1996.
