Rea and Dunbar join boycott of Belfast Arts Awards

Several leading Northern-born actors, poets and writers have given their support to a boycott of a Belfast awards ceremony later today in protest at cutbacks in the city's arts budget.

The latest names to join the boycott of the Belfast Arts Awards include Belfast-born actor Stephen Rea and Fermanagh-born actor Adrian Dunbar.

Playwright Brian Friel and poets Tom Paulin and Michael Longley are already among around 200 individuals and organisations boycotting the annual ceremony.

The boycott was established to protest at a Belfast City Council's decision to cut its arts budget by 20%.

Local artists said this was done without consultation after years of under-funding.

They said tonight's awards ceremony gives a false impression of mutual respect between the council and the city's artists.