Administrative powers and provisions

18 District council powers respecting arts and entertainment.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), and without prejudice to any other powers exercisable by them, a [ district council] may do, or arrange for the doing of, or contribute towards the expenses of the doing of, anything necessary or expedient for any of the following purposes, that is to say—
(a) the promotion of the arts in Northern Ireland, whether by contributions to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland or by other means;
(b) the provision of an entertainment of any nature;
(c) the provision of a theatre, concert hall, or other premises suitable for the giving of such entertainments;
(d) the maintenance of a band or orchestra;
(e) any purpose incidental to the matters aforesaid, including the provision, in connection with the giving of any such entertainment, of refreshments or programmes and the advertising of any such entertainment.
SRO (NI) 1973/285
(2) The powers conferred on a [ district council] by paragraphs ( b) to ( e) of subsection (1) shall not be exercised in relation to any entertainment held in any place outside the area of that [ council], or in relation to a theatre, concert hall, or other premises situate in any place outside that area, unless—
(a) that place is convenient for residents in the area of that [ council];
(b) the [ district council] for the area within which that place is situate consent.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions of this section, a [ district council]—
(a) may for the purposes authorised by those provisions enclose or set apart any part of a park or pleasure ground belonging to the [ council] or under their control not exceeding one acre or one-tenth of the area of the park or pleasure ground whichever is the greater;
(b) may permit any theatre, concert hall, or other premises provided by them for any of the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) and any part of a park or pleasure ground enclosed or set apart as aforesaid, to be used for any such purpose by any other person, on such terms as to payment or otherwise as the [ council] think fit, and may authorise that other person to make charges for admission thereto;
(c) may themselves make charges for admission to any entertainment held by them and for any refreshment or programmes supplied at any such entertainment.
(4) Nothing in this section shall authorise any [ district council] to fail to observe and perform any covenant or condition subject to which a gift or lease of a public park or pleasure ground has been accepted or made without the consent of the donor, grantor, lessor or other person entitled in law to the benefit of the covenant or condition.
(5) Nothing in this section shall affect the provisions of any enactment by virtue of which a licence is required for the public performance of a stage play or the public exhibition of cinematograph films, or for boxing or wrestling entertainments or for public music, or for the sale of intoxicating liquor.