At a meeting today with Carál Ní Chuilín, the Minister of Culture, Arts & Leisure, Sir George Bain, Chairman of the Ulster Orchestra outlined the serious financial implications for its future following cuts to its budget over the past three years — particularly exacerbated by the 4% in-year cut recently announced as part of the cross-departmental cuts that have affected many organisations in the arts sector.

Sir George Bain explained that the Board of the Ulster Orchestra is faced with the unwelcome prospect of qualifying the accounts of the organisation by the end of November if interim funding is not found.

He went on to outline a wide range of urgent meetings the Orchestra has had with current funders, including the Arts Council, the BBC and Belfast City Council, in addition to other Government Departments in an effort to explore funding options.

The Board of the Ulster Orchestra is also suggesting a number of structural and financial models that would maintain the provision of a full Symphonic Orchestra in Northern Ireland but not as we have come to know it over the last 50 years.

Commenting on the meeting Sir George Bain said, “The Ulster Orchestra has survived almost 50 years of peace and conflict in Northern Ireland, but like many other orchestras across the world it will struggle to survive under the current funding model. We need to create a symphony orchestra that will be able to widely serve the communities in which we are based and to continue the work we do, not only in the concert hall, but also in learning and participation programmes in communities across Belfast and beyond. To that end we have had a very positive meeting with the minister and her officials today. The next step is to look at ways of going forward which will happen over the next number of weeks.

“The potential loss of the Ulster Orchestra, at a time when 11,000 people attended the BBC Proms in the Park at the Titanic Slipway in September and 60,000 asked for tickets, is simply a tragedy for the cultural, educational, social and economic future of Northern Ireland.

“Times are tough for everyone and we absolutely recognise that but we believe that Northern Ireland deserves to have a symphony orchestra as much as any region in these islands. We also have much to celebrate as we enter into an exciting new season with our new, young Chief Conductor, Rafael Payare, at the helm. Rafael is a product of the well-known El Sistema programme in Venezuela and is a shining star across the arts world. Audiences numbers are up, our work in socially and economically deprived areas goes from strength to strength, and more and more young people are engaging with us in our education work.

“We can’t do it on our own. We call on all lovers of music, in whatever genre, the Minister, and all our public representatives to recognise the unique nature of the Ulster Orchestra, and to make a firm decision to help us continue in our mission to share the music across the region. We can then work together, as partners, on developing a structural and financial model that is sustainable while taking account of current public-sector financial difficulties.

“For now, our work throughout the season will continue as normal and we wish to thank all our loyal staff, funders and friends for their unwavering support”.