The Cork 2005 European Capital of Culture director, Mr John Kennedy, has welcomed an announcement by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, that he is to make an extra €1.5 million available for the programme of events.
"We're delighted. It's big news for the Capital of Culture and it's big news for Cork because it means that we can put on significant additional events and commission additional work to what we have already announced - it expands what's going on in Cork 2005."
The announcement brings to €7.85 million the funding from Government for Cork 2005. This is in addition to €6.5 million from Cork City Council, €500,000 from the EU, and a target figure of between €5 million and €7 million from private partnership arrangements.
Mr O'Donoghue said the additional funding would be directed towards additional new commissions and towards a number of special big events with mass audience appeal.
"Last month I launched an outstanding programme for Cork 2005 that includes a staggering variety of events.
"The programme embraces art and culture in its broadest sense, from architecture, design and the visual arts through an array of festivals, film, media and sound, literature, music, sport and theatre and dance, not to mention workshops and residencies.
"With the additional funding now available, the programme can be further developed to include a number of additional events as well as some special events that will attract large numbers of visitors to the city."
Last month, the organisers of Cork's European Capital of Culture unveiled over 200 events which they expect will attract over 60,000 visitors to the city and bring in some €100 million in spending in the greater Cork area during the year.
