The Arts Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Membership

3.—(1) The Arts Council shall consist of such persons as the Head of the Department shall appoint after consultation with such persons as appear to him to represent—

(a) district councils;

(b) persons engaged in providing education;

(c) persons engaged in, or in the promotion of, the arts.

(2) In the period of 12 months from the making of this Order, sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect with the omission of the words from “after consultation with” to the end.

(3) The Head of the Department shall appoint—

(a) one of the members of the Arts Council to be chairman who, in the case of an equality of votes, shall have a second or casting vote; and

(b) another member to be vice-chairman who in the absence of the chairman shall, in the case of an equality of votes, have a second or casting vote.

(4) The Department may appoint assessors to the Arts Council who shall be entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and speak at, meetings of the Council and committees thereof, but shall not be entitled to vote at any such meetings.

4.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, a member of the Arts Council shall hold and vacate his office in accordance with the terms of his appointment.

(2) A member shall be deemed to have vacated his office and the Arts Council shall declare his place vacant in the following circumstances—

(a) where he gives to the Head of the Department a notice in writing of his resignation;

(b) where he becomes bankrupt or makes a composition with his creditors;

(c) where in the opinion of the Head of the Department he becomes incapacitated to hold office and the Head of the Department so informs the Arts Council in writing;

(d) where he is convicted of an indictable offence and is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than three months; or

(e) where he fails, without leave of the Arts Council, to attend any meetings of the Council, or of a committee thereof of which he is a member, for a period of 6 consecutive months.

(3) The Arts Council may pay to its chairman and vice-chairman such salary as the Department, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, may determine.

(4) The Arts Council may pay travelling and subsistence allowances and other expenses necessarily incurred by members of the Council and committees and sub-committees thereof in the performance of their functions and such allowances and expenses shall be paid at such rates as the Department may determine.