SDLP Newry councillor Doire Finn has welcomed council’s backing for calls to save the National Youth Choir.

She brought a motion to council on Monday night.

Councillors backed calls for the Communities Minister and Arts Council NI to intervene to prevent the closure.

Councillor Finn said:

“The closure of the National Youth Choir is the latest assault on the arts sector here. This is an organisation that has provided opportunities to thousands of young people for over two decades and it’s now set to be the latest casualty of this Executive’s failure to take the arts seriously and recognise the contribution it makes not only to life here, but to our economy.

“There are currently 360 members of this choir who will be impacted by its closure. Hundreds of young people will be left without this vital resource to pursue their talents and that’s before we get to future generations who will also miss out. This is more than just a choir, it helps young people build confidence, foster life-long friendships and pursue their dreams.

“Since 2009 we have seen a 66% fall in public spending in our region on arts, without an intervention we will now be the only part of these islands without a National Youth Choir. That is absolutely shameful and I welcome council’s support for my call on the Communities Minister and the Arts Council to look again at the harm this decision will cause and to step in and save the National Youth Choir.”