Belfast's Cathedral Quarter Trust has been forced to stop its day to day activities "with immediate effect" after core funding was withdrawn, it has claimed.
The Trust, which delivered the popular Culture Night event in the city until it was cancelled in 2022 for a "complete rethink", said it had been informed in the last week that core funding by the Department for Communities was being withdrawn.
In a statement issued during the week, the CQT board it would have to "cease day to day operational activity, including planning any cultural events, with immediate effect and for the foreseeable future".
READ MORE: Culture Night Belfast event cancelled this year as 'complete rethink' needed
The Trust was set up to support arts, culture and heritage in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter through promoting and organising activities, raising awareness and encouraging public participation, and facilitating co-operation amongst stakeholders.
In a statement, a spokesperson for CQT said: "The Board of the Cathedral Quarter Trust, CQT, has been forced to cease day to day operational activity, including planning any cultural events, with immediate effect and for the foreseeable future, following the withdrawal of core funding by the Department for Communities. This DfC decision was communicated to CQT within the past weeks.
"We have with regret served notice to our employees and we thank them sincerely for their unrelenting efforts to drive forward the CQT agenda to this point.
"The Board, which is representative of businesses, arts, educational and heritage organisations and other civic stakeholders in the Cathedral Quarter will continue to meet and to champion issues that promote the best long term interests of the Cathedral Quarter, the city centre and the wider Belfast agenda. We will never waver from our belief that the Cathedral Quarter has a critical role to play in driving sustainable and inclusive regeneration in this part of Belfast with a knock on effect across the whole city and region."
The Trust also said following the withdrawal of its core funding it would not be directly involved in the delivery of any future Culture Night but would continue to work with Belfast City Council and other stakeholders to "explore all options around the future of this popular and important event".
A Department for Communities spokesperson: "The Department for Communities is not in a position to confirm its budget for the incoming financial year.
"However, mindful that the current financial year was ending, and in the absence of a timeframe for the budget settlement, the Department has been in contact with its arms-length bodies and delivery partners.
"This was to outline our understanding of the financial position, in line with planning assumptions and recognising the need for continued engagement, and to indicate any reduction in budgets.
"While the Department for Communities remains committed to its strategic priorities, it acknowledges that significant challenges lie ahead."
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