Guildhall Press (Derry)

23/03/2015

UTV Northern Ireland / the UTV NEWS this evening at 6:30pm – SIX GROUPS LOSE ALL ARTS COUNCIL FUNDING:

http://www.u.tv/News/2015/03/23/Six-groups-lose-all-Arts-Council-funding-34067

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has announced a total withdrawal of funding to a number of organisations for the year 2015/16.

23/03/2015

Managing Editor of Guildhall Press, Paul Hippsley on BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson Show earlier today [see 14:39mins to 18:55mins] about the 100% Annual Funding Programme Arts Cuts to Guildhall Press (Derry) from ACNI with reporter Teresa Craig, following an overview with reporter Gerry Bradley [see 10:22mins to 14:38mins] Director of Arts Development in the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Noirin McKinney explains overall Arts Cuts funding [see 01:05:51mins to 01:17:40mins]. Film Reviewer Martin Bradley and host Mark Patterson say a few words also from 01:38:35mins to 01:39:40mins.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05n8rrv

Grassroots news, views, issues and culture from across the north west of Northern Ireland.

23/03/2015

Some of the opinions expressed on BBC Radio Foyle this morning of those affected by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Arts Cuts directly or in support of local arts:
Guildhall Press Author Dave Duggan (writer) from 01:24:34 to 01:26:40 (while doing the Newspaper Review)
Public vox-pops from 01:40:40 to 01:42:50
Eileen Walsh, Chairperson of the Cultural Partnership Forum and David Lewis, Culture Northern Ireland from 01:42:52 to 01:52:30
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05n8rrq

Enda McClafferty and Elaine McGee present local news, sport and weather.

23/03/2015

Guildhall Press are very grateful for Arts Council of Northern Ireland funding over the last 10 or so years of our 36 years in business. We have existed for the majority of our time with other sources of funding, income generation and commercial funders and will overcome this temporary setback. We are confident that we will continue to succeed and prevail in the future. We greatly appreciate all the support, good will and loyalty shown to date from our partners, colleagues, friends and the general public and long may this continue. Disappointed as we are in the Arts Cuts, (which contributed to 30% of our funding) we will be lodging a formal appeal on this decision. Managing Director of Guildhall Press (Derry), Paul Hippsley, will be speaking on BBC Radio Foyle from 1pm this afternoon. Again, thank you for all your support x

23/03/2015

Statement from Conal McFeely of CREGGAN ENTERPRISES – www.rathmor.com – Monday 23 March 2015

MCFEELY SAYS ARTS COUNCIL CUTS TO GP ARE 'BAFFLING'

The decision by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to wipe Guildhall Press core funding completely is both baffling and very disappointing. It isn’t just a body blow for Creggan, it is a body blow for this entire city and region.
This community business has been a mainstay of the Northwest publishing industry for four decades: it has been responsible for conceiving and developing hundreds of books, pamphlets, eBooks and plays. It has connected with all corners of the world, it has launched careers, and it has become the city’s number one custodian of history, literature and visual images.
It has been a champion of the city community, showcasing its talents and creativity. It was one of the originators and mainstays of the City of Culture 2013 and, indeed, wrote the book on the year.
It has always eschewed elitism in favour of community empowerment. And it is testament to Guildhall Press (Derry), even after the announcement of these cuts, that the Ráth Mór Centre was packed at the weekend by culture lovers attending GP’s spring ‘Inspired’ festival. [See below]
We acknowledge that in times of austerity that everyone needs to make sacrifices, but what makes this hardest to bear is that the burden is not being shared fairly or equally. So rest assured, we will support Guildhall Press as they challenge this wrongful decision and call on the wider community to do likewise.
The decision to cut all its core funding is both baffling and without justification. I would call on the Culture Minister, Cáral Ní Chuilín, to review this decision made by Arts Council NI..

Conal McFeely, Development Executive, Creggan Enterprises

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See also GUILDHALL PRESS Writers' Festival INSPIRED – Sat 21 March 2015

23/03/2015

Full list of Arts Council of Northern Ireland Annual Funding Programme 2015-2016:
http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/news/arts-sector-feels-the-impact-of-1.38-million-funding-cuts

23/03/2015

As mentioned in an earlier post, we will be making a public statement later today about Guildhall Press losing 100% funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. We appreciate all the concern, support and loyalty to date.

21/03/2015

Big thanks to all who participated and attended the inaugural GUILDHALL PRESS Writers' Festival INSPIRED – Sat 21 March 2015 today at the Rath Mor Centre & Gasyard Centre in Derry. To our very special guests: Nuala McKeever, Glenn Patterson, Anne Tannahill; authors Brian McGilloway, Anita Robinson, Claire Allan, Phil Cunningham, Charlie Herron & Desmond Doherty; all those who attended the writing workshops with Dave Duggan (writer), Marilyn McLaughlin & Jenni Doherty; the Little Acorns Youth Inklets: Rachel Newhouse, Rebecca O'Connor, Mícheál McCann, Caoimhe Greenberg & Blanaid Barr; event hosts Paul McFadden, Garbhan Downey , Grainne McCool & Jenni Doherty; from Bluebell Arts: Claire Heaney, Sinead Crumlish & Mae Cassie Karen; our partners: Creggan Enterprises, The Hive Studios - Digital Arts Studio, Bluebell Arts, Little Acorns Bookstore (Derry) & the Gasyard Centre; GP Info desk & bookstall: Afric Kenny, Sarah Logue & Rachel Newhouse; NIPR The National Collection of Northern Ireland Publications: Joan Crooks & Felicity Crozier: from Libraries NI Creggan Library: John & Deirdre; Felicity Mccall & Lynne Edgar from the Derry Writers' Group, Madeline Mc Cully from the Derry Playhouse Writers and MOVING ON WRITERS' Group.
All the folk involved and who participated today were the real inspiration and made today.

This Festival was funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) and Guildhall Press.

Please note: We will be making a public statement about the devastating news of the ACNI's drastic cuts to so, so many arts organisations, Guildhall Press included, on Monday 23 March.

JD
Festival Director

20/03/2015

Delighted to announce that all the Writing Workshops for GUILDHALL PRESS Writers' Festival INSPIRED – Sat 21 March 2015 are now fully booked. Emails have been sent to all those who enrolled. Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow and being inspired! View the full Festival Programme from Guildhall Press – www.ghpress.com/inspired

20/03/2015

Thanks to Culture Northern Ireland for sharing details of the GUILDHALL PRESS Writers' Festival INSPIRED – Sat 21 March 2015 which is being held at the Rath Mor Centre in Creggan and the Gasyard Centre, Lecky Road, Derry tomorrow from 10am to 5pm. For more details, please see the Guildhall Press (Derry) page and visit our website at Guildhall Press: www.ghpress.com/inspired All events are free and everyone is welcome!

One-day literary celebration encourages aspiring writers of all ages in Derry

20/03/2015

Thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for sharing details of the International Book Award nomination for the Guildhall Press publication FEAST OR FAMINE by Emmett Mc Court, editor Garbhan Downey.

Local chef and cultural food ambassador Emmett McCourt has been shortlisted for a prestigious international Gourmand World Cookbook awards for his cultural food publication – Feast or Famine. Gourmand officially confirmed the nomination at a ceremony in Belfast City Hall along with other Northern Ir…

17/03/2015

For the GUILDHALL PRESS Writers' Festival INSPIRED – Sat 21 March 2015 Programme, please see to link below to download and/or view online: http://www.ghpress.com/inspired/