Minister oblivious to culture wrangle until reporters contacted DCAL

Although Derry City Council Chief Executive Sharon O’Connor wrote to the Culture Company on Wednesday, October 3, about the move, the Culture Minister was none the wiser until reporters contacted her the following day.

East Londonderry MLA Gregory Campbell asked the Minister when and how she became aware of the decision by the Council to assume control of the marketing function of the Culture Company.

She replied: “I became aware of this decision on October 4, 2012 through a media enquiry submitted to my Department.”

Londonderry’s Culture Company is owned by Derry City Council and the £12.6m provided by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) for UK City of Culture 2013 was offered specifically to the local authority.

A top civil servant made it clear to MLAs in June that the Culture Company was owned by Derry City Council and that the £12.6m in taxpayers money dedicated towards Londonderry’s cultural jamboree next year is directly the responsibility of the local authority.