Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/galway-2020-the-implosion-of-the-capital-of-culture-project-1.3642293

Interesting article, if depressing. "Unusually, the EU monitoring panel sought an update from Galway 2020 in November, ahead of the next scheduled monitoring meeting in 2019." This reads like an early intervention to stave off a complete crisis.

"Next to the Government, which has committed €15 million, the two local authorities are principal funders. Each promised €6 million, although the county council has now said it can only pay €2 million of that. A botched attempt to appoint a business-engagement director to raise up to €7 million in corporate sponsorship, and a general lack of confidence by the business community, means that only €23 million of a quoted €46 million budget is currently guaranteed. The EU element is valued at just €1.5 million."

That council funding is misleading as afaik that was based on a rates increase. Seems they expected businesses to pay twice over, via rates and via corporate sponsorship.

Robbo wrote: »

Now the Druid have pulled out. This is quite a substantial loss.

If it's politically expedient to do so, the Public Accounts Committee are going to have a field day with this and rightly so.

I think it's a bit early to be calling in the PAC but things must be much, much worse than even the papers are reporting if the likes of Druid are pulling out, unless this is brinksmanship on their part.

This crisis may just be the thing it needs to get things sorted, I'd still have faith a great year will be produced. That being said, with the other issues Galway is facing, an innovative solution like spreading the events up the west coast could be amazing. Would be massive for places like Roundstone/Ballina/Westport/Sligo and an "Atlantic 20/20" would be class. (I know this is pure dreaming, btw)