Uncertainty for Castlebar's Linenhall Arts Centre continues

The Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar continues to face a financial crisis after a significant drop in funding from Castlebar Municipal District last year. 

Without a commitment of ring-fenced funding from local councillors for 2024, the popular and long-established arts centre feels its future is precarious. 

Linenhall’s Executive Director, Bernadette Greenan, said they have ‘always been immensely grateful to all the councillors within the Municipal District’. 

"They have supported us financially for many years, and as a charity, we are heavily reliant on that support. 

“We are very nervous about our funding allocation for 2024 and don’t know how we will navigate financially this year without it," she said.

The arts centre, which has a footfall of over 17,000 people each year, has been funded by the municipal district in previous years to the amount of €40,000, but experienced an unexplained drop to €32,000 in 2022, and a more drastic drop to €22,000 in 2023. 

Chairperson of Linenhall, Lorraine Gannon, said the loss ‘endangers’ their future, and that they ‘would like to see funding return to what it was in previous years’.

"We are a small to medium enterprise and employ a significant number of staff, as well as providing an invaluable service to the town. We would like to see this recognised by the Councillors for the current year,” she added. 

Questions have recently arisen regarding ownership of the building amid discussions about the onerous capital work that is required to maintain a listed building. 

"The building is in trust to the local parish for the people of Castlebar. We are currently under a 35-year lease from the parish priest and the Linenhall is responsible for maintaining the building which requires ongoing investment," commented Ms Greenan. 

At a recent municipal district meeting, Cllr Blackie Gavin commented that there are an ‘awful lot of organisations’ in the area needing funding, not just the Linenhall. 

Cllr Donna Sheridan agreed with him, and questioned Linenhall’s balance sheets.

The Fine Gael councillor agreed in supporting the centre, saying she has done so each year since she was elected, but told the meeting that they had to ‘get real’ on what can and can't be spent.

“We have to support and keep the lights on in all our small community centres,” said Cllr Sheridan. 

Upon questioning regarding increases in staff and a bank balance citing €90,000, Linenhall’s executive director said they ‘have not hired additional staff in many years’ and are ‘working under a financial deficit with minimal cash flow’. 

“The balance sheet highlights funds that are either already spent or ring-fenced for specific projects and are not funds resting in our accounts,” she explained.

Additionally, she continued saying, charities have ‘a responsibility to build reserves to maintain financial stability and allow us to meet our commitments, even when unexpected events or costs arise’. 

“This is a requirement of many of our funders including the Arts Council. Unfortunately we are not currently in a position to hold any reserves for this purpose,” she concluded.