Dear Friends and Colleagues

Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company has received news this week of a 100% cut to its annual funding provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Annual Funding Programme.

The declined funding of £112,910 would have contributed to three full-time staff salaries and building overheads at Echo Echo Studios in Derry for financial year 2025/26.

This decision comes as a great shock to all involved in the company.

We will be meeting with ACNI to discuss this decision soon.

This is an immediate existential threat to Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company but we will be continuing all of our current programmes and will keep Echo Echo Studios open and staffed for at least the next three months as we consider all of our options.

The company has no outstanding creditors and sufficient unrestricted funds for this period.

We will be reaching out to all of our key stakeholders to discuss the impact of this decision in the coming days.

We will appreciate your support in the days ahead.

Board, staff and artists of Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company