Opera House ‘desperately needs extra funding’
Company chairman Charlie Hennessy told yesterday’s annual company meeting that the Arts Council has cut their grant aid by 13% making extra funding from the Arts Council and local authorities essential if the venue is to continue to provide an extensive range of entertainment.
“Without extra funding we will not be able to provide the cultural oxygen to which the citizens are entitled,” he said.
The company’s accounts, which were not made available to the media, show the Opera House has lost more that €250,000 as a direct result of its involvement in outsourcing its ticket booking operation to the Cork Central Box Office which has ceased trading.
The accounts for the 12 months to the end of March show turnover increased by 39% to €6.1 million but pre-tax losses also increased by 46% to €508,513. However, the company in a press release issued yesterday stated the company lost just €178,000 but added that this figure was before depreciation.
Speaking at the meeting, Executive Director Gerry Barnes said the cut in funding from the Arts Council to the venue sector is causing grave problems.
Mr Barnes said that while the Opera House pays €487,000 in rates and taxes it receives just €190,000 from the Arts Council.
“This has been increasingly felt in the remaining months of 2003, when the house was forced to go dark for many weeks on account of the reduction in touring shows and revenue funds,” he said.
The accounts show that of income from box office receipts of €4.44m, the company paid €3.1m to stage companies.
There was a 22% increase in attendances to 242,000, helping bar receipts rise by 18% to €1.568m.
Following a €1.9 million grant from the Taoiseach’s Office the company reduced its long term debts from €4.288m to €3.7m. These debts include a loan of €2.79m due to Cork Corporation.
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