Derry dance company 'shocked' at 100% funding cut

A dance company based in Londonderry has said a decision to axe 100% of its funding has come as a "great shock".

In a social media post Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company said it has had a funding application of more than £112,000 turned down by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI).

Without that funding, Echo Echo said it faces an "immediate existential threat".

The ACNI said investment in dance in "the Derry city and the north west region remains a priority".

The Derry dance company said the funding would have covered three staff members' wages as well as some overheads.

"We are currently assessing the impact that this cut will have on the future of Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company and our home studios," the company said.

It added: "This decision comes as a great shock to all involved in the company.

"This is an immediate existential threat to the company but we expect to continue all of our current programmes and keep Echo Echo Studios open and staffed for at least the next three months as we consider all of our options."

A meeting with the ACNI will take place next week, the company added.

The ACNI described the dance theatre company as an Arts Council client and multi-grant recipient who had "accessed funding from many of our programmes, including the Annual Funding Programme (AFP)".

"Unfortunately, with disappointment this year Echo Echo did not receive 25-26 AFP funding," the ACNI said.

It added: "The Arts Council hopes to announce details of this year's 2025-26 AFP clients once our annual funding allocation is known."