Belfast News: City Council Fork Out For Public Art

Ever walked down the street only to find some idiot has placed an obstacle in the way under the guise of public art. Ever wondered just how much, Belfast City rates payers have forked out for such projects, well so did Simply Belfast, so we approached the council under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Belfast City Council initially declined our request indicating that it would cost over a thousand pounds to seek out all the projects they have provided money to over a ten year period.

Belfast City Council's response raised questions, given the limited information we were seeking, had the council provided so much money to such projects that it would cost over a thousand pounds in staff hours to ascertain the details or did the council perhaps lack proper fiscal controls, governing public funds. if it would cost over a thousand pounds to determine how much they had spent on other such spends? 

We reviewed their decision and succeeded in obtaining the following details:

In the years 2000 to 2004 Belfast City Council did not spend a single penny on such projects.

In subsequent years they paid:

2005 - £18,000
2006 - £97,500
2007 - £68,300
2008 - £101,600
2009 - £212,779
2010 - £32,175 

Details of specific projects include:

Lets Twist again - £40,000
City East Building, Newtownards Road - East Belfast

Sweet Water Arch - £40,000
Car Park at Stranmillis Roundabout