Arts Council ‘extremely angry’ at Abbey mismanagement
26/07/2005 - 08:07:38The Arts Council has expressed anger at the financial crisis that has led to the resignation and impending replacement of the Abbey Theatre's entire board of directors.
The board agreed to step aside after an independent consultant's report that showed that the theatre lost €1.8m last year, twice the originally reported figure of €900,000.
In a statement issued last night, the Arts Council said it was "extremely angry" at the extent of the mismanagement of public funds.
It said it was determined to save the Abbey, but this could only be done with a new board and new corporate structure.
The council said it had agreed to meet the theatre's day-to-day operating costs for a month, until the company and the board are dissolved and replaced.
