There will be no funding for the Anna Livia International Opera Festival next year, according to the 2003 Estimates for the Department of Education and Science. It is understood the Minister, Mr Dempsey, does not consider it a priority.
The festival, whose founder and artistic director is the mezzo-soprano Bernadette Greevy, received €534,000 from the department towards its run at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre from July 7th-14th this year.
Ms Greevy, who also performed in the festival, said she had not been informed that the funding was being stopped and so did not wish to make a comment.
Mr John Dennehy, secretary general of the Department of Education and Science, is a member of the festival board.
The festival was first announced in 1999, when it received €279,342 from the department, according to a spokeswoman. In 2000, it received €389,921 and €609,157 in 2001. Estimates for the Department of Education and Science 2003 make "no provision" for any funding, the spokeswoman confirmed last night.
She also said negotiations were taking place between the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands over the transfer of responsibility for the funding of some cultural bodies, currently under education's remit.These include the Irish Film Institute, the National Youth Orchestra, Slógadh, Foras Éireann, the Irish Committee of Historical Societies, the schools recycling scheme and the Artane School of Music.
When the Anna Livia International Opera Festival was first announced in 1999, it aimed for "predominantly Irish" casting. New opportunities were created for Irish performers and the festival was "unashamedly about popular opera" as its manager, Ms Bea Kelleher, said earlier this year.
