£8m funding bid for City of Culture year

The capital bid is in addition to the 450,000 in resource funding (money from DSD and OFMDFM) which helped the successful City of Culture bid this year.

A further 2.2m resource is expected to be required for the City of Culture endeavour between 2011 and 2014.

The money is the only state funding proposed to be made available for Londonderry’s cultural year.

Social Development minister Alex Attwood stated: “To date my Department has provided 450k resource (along with the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister) in this current year to help fund the successful bid that has seen Derry win the title of UK City of Culture. An additional 2.2m resource is expected to be required during the period 2011-2014.”

Whilst unable to make any commitments until the budget was agreed, he revealed an 8m capital bid for City of Culture was on his Department’s wishlist.

“In total my Department has made bids of 68m capital from 2011/12 to 2014/15 for the North West area to cover Neighbourhood Renewal (8m), Urban Development Grant and Public Realm schemes (20m), the City of Culture (8m) and implementation of the Regeneration Plan (32m) which includes the regeneration of Fort George,” he advised.

He said the development of DSD funded projects across the built environment, public spaces, streetscapes, riverfront, parks and green spaces would also contribute to City of Culture 2013.

Although DSD and OFMDFM’s 450,000 contribution this year and DSD’s proposed contribution in future is the only state funding directly proposed for City if Culture a number of Government Departments are keen to point out how existing planned investments - from the ILEX regeneration plan to the A5, A6 and A2 road upgrades - will all be of benefit to the city in its year in the spotlight in 2013.

For example, OFMDFM counts 5m spent on the development of the Ebrington parade ground and a further 500,000 spent on the Londonderry regeneration plan as part of its contribution to City of Culture 2013.

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister - in joint response to a query on the level of funding at Stormont - replied: “Derry City Council will be taking forward the delivery of the City of Culture 2013 in partnership with the Ilex urban regeneration company. Ilex have identified several projects which actively support the investment in the City of Culture 2013, including an investment of 5,000,000 this year in the development of the parade ground at Ebrington, and over 500,000 on the Regeneration Plan, early scoping work in support of an Ebrington feature within the proposed Maritime Museum and conceptual architectural drawings for an art gallery.”

Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy also felt a number of projects funded by his Department would significantly improve the transport infrastructure serving the city and so contribute to the City of Culture 2013.

Elsewhere, Minister of the Environment Edwin Poots confirmed the DoE provided input to the Derry City bid and that resources permitting will continue to provide support mainly in dealing promptly with any planning implications relating to the City of Culture 2013.

Investment Minister Arlene Foster revealed she has lodged bids for funding for City of Culture 2013 as part of Budget 2010.

But added: “Exact details of the allocation available for funding will only be decided once the outcome of the current budget exercise is known later in the autumn.”

Employment Minister Reg Empey said he had not specifically allocated money but argued DEL’s provision for training and upskilling and for supporting Further and Higher Education makes a significant contribution to the cultural, social and economic life of Londonderry.

For their part the Ministers of Culture, Finance, Justice and Education have all said they have no plans to allocate any of their budgets towards funding City of Culture 2013.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said that City of Culture 2013 appeared to be outside his remit.