Cork artists’ group suffer funding cut

CELEBRATING 25 years, the Backwater Artists Group (BAG) in Cork has plenty to shout about. It is one of the largest artists’ studio groups in Ireland. But a technical glitch in the application for funding has resulted in zero money from the Arts Council this year.

The 29 studios are located in the Wandesford Quay complex in Cork. The complex is owned by Cork City Council and is managed by Wandesford Quay Ltd, which is made up of representatives from BAG, Cork Printmakers and Cork City Council.

Last year, the BAG received Arts Council funding of €24,000, a drop of €5,000 on the previous year. Co-administrator of BAG, Elaine Coakley, says the funding has steadily come down since 2007.