
Campaigners urge Riverside Theatre co-funder from 1970s to help save it: ‘This is not a dying theatre – it is an underfunded one'
The 350-seater Riverside Theatre was built in 1976 by the New University of Ulster, in partnership with Coleraine Borough Council, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, a public fundraising appeal and the Gulbenkian Foundation.
Steven Millar, from the Save the Riverside Theatre group, has written to the Gulbenkian Foundation, as well as Communities Minister Gordan Lyons and Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald, with 'urgent concern' about the imminent closure of the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine an institution which Gulbenkian Foundation helped found.
The Gulbenkian Foundation is an international organisation promoting the development of individuals and organisations through art, science, education, and charity, for a more equitable and sustainable society.
In March of this year, UU suggested that Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council could take on a lease of the theatre, and also pay the annual running costs and the necessary repairs.
Ulster University has previously said the building would require significant capital investment to remain in use – with refurbishment works estimated to cost in the region of £745,000, on top of annual running costs of £495,000.
"In the face of unprecedented financial challenges… it is more important than ever that we focus our resources on core academic activities," a university spokesperson said.
Mr Millar said Ulster University (UU) has announced its intention to close the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine by the end of July 2025 without public consultation, without a feasibility study, without an equality impact assessment, and without any formal process to explore viable alternatives.
'This isn't just a devastating civic and cultural loss. It also violates the public and charitable commitments under which Riverside was founded and dishonors the spirit of Gulbenkian's original investment,' he said.
'This is not a dying theatre. It is an underfunded one. There are viable options: we are actively exploring a charitable trust or a lease model to allow continued operation.
'But these alternatives are being shut out before they can be tested. Ulster University has declined, so far, to pause the closure timeline or publicly engage.
'That is why we are calling on you as a founding funder and cultural leader to intervene. You co-built Riverside Theatre. Your voice now could help protect it.'
Designed by Peter Moro, Riverside remains the only flexible-format theatre of its kind on the island of Ireland. From its inception, the Riverside was never a conventional university department it was a civic and cultural asset, created for the benefit of the wider public.
Mr Millar has claimed this decision breaches legal and public duties on multiple grounds, citing that it was co-funded by charitable and public taxpayer money including the Gulbenkian Foundation.
Under UK and Northern Irish law, he said, such assets may be subject to charitable purpose restrictions, requiring that they continue to serve the public benefit for which they were created.
Chris Robinson Chair, Equity Lagan & East Branch obo Lagan & East Branch, has also written to UU's Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew.
He said: 'This announcement by the University of Ulster comes as yet another body blow to the Arts in Northern Ireland and is further evidence of the lack of importance that local decision makers place in the arts and the community who engage with them.'
Mr Robinson also accused the local council and department for communities of 'passing the blame'.
Ulster University, DfC and Causeway Coast & Glens Council have been contacted.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Rhyl Journal
14 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Welsh FM accused of doing ‘nothing' to protect pensioners from winter fuel cut
Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, called for Eluned Morgan to apologise to the pensioners affected by the change last winter, arguing the Welsh Government should have stepped in to support those in need. Speaking during First Minister's Questions on Tuesday, Mr Millar said the cut had forced vulnerable people to choose between heating and eating. Baroness Morgan, leader of the Welsh Labour Government, said she was 'absolutely delighted' that the UK Government had reversed the cut for many. The payment, worth up to £300, will be restored to the vast majority of pensioners, with anyone with an income of under £35,000 a year now getting the payment automatically. The decision last July to restrict the winter fuel payment to the poorest pensioners was intended to save around £1.5 billion a year, with more than nine million people who would have previously been eligible losing out. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, announced the partial U-turn on Monday, following significant backlash from charities, opposition MPs and the Government's own backbenchers. Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Millar said: 'Yesterday we saw a screeching U-turn on the winter fuel allowance by Rachel Reeves, after considerable pressure from the Conservative Party. 'You will know that over half a million Welsh pensioners were deprived of their winter fuel payments last year, leaving some very vulnerable people with the unenvious choice of having to choose between heating and eating – it's an absolute disgrace. 'You are meant to stand up for Wales but what did you actually do in terms of this winter fuel allowance? You did absolutely nothing.' Mr Millar argued Baroness Morgan should have implemented a Welsh winter fuel payment or stood up to Sir Keir Starmer and demanded the payment be restored sooner. Baroness Morgan responded that she was 'absolutely delighted' that Sir Keir Starmer had listened to pensioners in Wales and across the country. 'I'm really pleased that because we have made representations to the Prime Minister on this issue that he has changed his mind and that will make a difference to hundreds of thousands of pensioners across Wales this winter, in a country where we do have more older people and housing which is more difficult to heat. 'I don't think that it's bad to listen to people and then to make sure that you respond to them.' Baroness Morgan had previously pushed back against the cut, having called for a 'rethink' in early May, saying it was something 'that comes up time and again'. At the time, the Government said there would 'not be a change to the Government's policy'. On Monday, Ms Reeves suggested that the 'stability we've brought back to the economy' meant the Government was able to change the eligibility threshold for winter fuel payments.


North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Welsh FM accused of doing ‘nothing' to protect pensioners from winter fuel cut
Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, called for Eluned Morgan to apologise to the pensioners affected by the change last winter, arguing the Welsh Government should have stepped in to support those in need. Speaking during First Minister's Questions on Tuesday, Mr Millar said the cut had forced vulnerable people to choose between heating and eating. Baroness Morgan, leader of the Welsh Labour Government, said she was 'absolutely delighted' that the UK Government had reversed the cut for many. The payment, worth up to £300, will be restored to the vast majority of pensioners, with anyone with an income of under £35,000 a year now getting the payment automatically. The decision last July to restrict the winter fuel payment to the poorest pensioners was intended to save around £1.5 billion a year, with more than nine million people who would have previously been eligible losing out. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, announced the partial U-turn on Monday, following significant backlash from charities, opposition MPs and the Government's own backbenchers. Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Millar said: 'Yesterday we saw a screeching U-turn on the winter fuel allowance by Rachel Reeves, after considerable pressure from the Conservative Party. 'You will know that over half a million Welsh pensioners were deprived of their winter fuel payments last year, leaving some very vulnerable people with the unenvious choice of having to choose between heating and eating – it's an absolute disgrace. 'You are meant to stand up for Wales but what did you actually do in terms of this winter fuel allowance? You did absolutely nothing.' Mr Millar argued Baroness Morgan should have implemented a Welsh winter fuel payment or stood up to Sir Keir Starmer and demanded the payment be restored sooner. Baroness Morgan responded that she was 'absolutely delighted' that Sir Keir Starmer had listened to pensioners in Wales and across the country. 'I'm really pleased that because we have made representations to the Prime Minister on this issue that he has changed his mind and that will make a difference to hundreds of thousands of pensioners across Wales this winter, in a country where we do have more older people and housing which is more difficult to heat. 'I don't think that it's bad to listen to people and then to make sure that you respond to them.' Baroness Morgan had previously pushed back against the cut, having called for a 'rethink' in early May, saying it was something 'that comes up time and again'. At the time, the Government said there would 'not be a change to the Government's policy'. On Monday, Ms Reeves suggested that the 'stability we've brought back to the economy' meant the Government was able to change the eligibility threshold for winter fuel payments.

South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Welsh FM accused of doing ‘nothing' to protect pensioners from winter fuel cut
Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, called for Eluned Morgan to apologise to the pensioners affected by the change last winter, arguing the Welsh Government should have stepped in to support those in need. Speaking during First Minister's Questions on Tuesday, Mr Millar said the cut had forced vulnerable people to choose between heating and eating. Baroness Morgan, leader of the Welsh Labour Government, said she was 'absolutely delighted' that the UK Government had reversed the cut for many. The payment, worth up to £300, will be restored to the vast majority of pensioners, with anyone with an income of under £35,000 a year now getting the payment automatically. The decision last July to restrict the winter fuel payment to the poorest pensioners was intended to save around £1.5 billion a year, with more than nine million people who would have previously been eligible losing out. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, announced the partial U-turn on Monday, following significant backlash from charities, opposition MPs and the Government's own backbenchers. Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Millar said: 'Yesterday we saw a screeching U-turn on the winter fuel allowance by Rachel Reeves, after considerable pressure from the Conservative Party. 'You will know that over half a million Welsh pensioners were deprived of their winter fuel payments last year, leaving some very vulnerable people with the unenvious choice of having to choose between heating and eating – it's an absolute disgrace. 'You are meant to stand up for Wales but what did you actually do in terms of this winter fuel allowance? You did absolutely nothing.' Mr Millar argued Baroness Morgan should have implemented a Welsh winter fuel payment or stood up to Sir Keir Starmer and demanded the payment be restored sooner. Baroness Morgan responded that she was 'absolutely delighted' that Sir Keir Starmer had listened to pensioners in Wales and across the country. 'I'm really pleased that because we have made representations to the Prime Minister on this issue that he has changed his mind and that will make a difference to hundreds of thousands of pensioners across Wales this winter, in a country where we do have more older people and housing which is more difficult to heat. 'I don't think that it's bad to listen to people and then to make sure that you respond to them.' Baroness Morgan had previously pushed back against the cut, having called for a 'rethink' in early May, saying it was something 'that comes up time and again'. At the time, the Government said there would 'not be a change to the Government's policy'. On Monday, Ms Reeves suggested that the 'stability we've brought back to the economy' meant the Government was able to change the eligibility threshold for winter fuel payments.