25 May, 2001
Ms Patricia Quinn, Director, The Arts Council, 60 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
Dear Patricia,
In October 1999 we made application to the Arts Council for a grant for the year 2000. We have been well over the grounds as to the reason for the Arts Council's delay in making the decision; nonetheless, it was fourteen months later, in December 2000, that we were awarded a grant retrospectively for that year. That grant was IR£200,829. The audited cost of our artistic programme for the year 2000 was (blank). Obviously, we felt we had no choice but to appeal this decision.
In November 2000, we made application for the year 2001. Because we had appealed we were told there would be a delay in the decision for this year. On 3 May 2001 we were offered a programming fund of up to £354,400, together with a challenge fund of up to £177,200 in capital (blank). We explained that, given our overheads and our programme, it was not possible for us to trade with this figure. The Council, realising our true financial position, decided to change the offer to a combined grant of £531,600. We explained to you, over two meetings, that this was still not sufficient for us to trade through the year.
It is not true, as cited in your letter of May 23rd, that I will be recommending that the Gate board decline this offer. What I did say was that I felt our hands were tied and that the Gate would not be in a position to trade if it was seen, as I feel it would be, to be trading recklessly.
So I am confident of what the board's response has to be; but, before calling that meeting, you will remember that our Chairman, Mary Finan, in a telephone conversation with you, particularly requested that the Council let us know of its final offer for the year 2001 as soon as possible. The board of the Gate now needs to know if this is the Council's final offer. Then it will meet and give you a very early response as to what route is left open to us.
My own feeling is that closure is now inevitable and it is a pity that the Council has decided to decline my urgent request to split the difference of the projected deficit in the knowledge that both the Council and the Gate would have to struggle to make up each half but, in so doing, would keep the doors open.
I hope it is possible for you to confirm that this is the Council's final offer as soon as possible, as I am sure we can at least agree that the Gate is now in a very precarious situation.
Yours sincerely, Michael Colgan, Director.
Some sections are blanked out by the Arts Council. The council said it had to blank them out under the Freedom of Information Act because they are commercially sensitive and include financial projections for the Gate.