Curtain to close on The Venue
![GOLD FOR THE VENUE!. . . .Brendan Bonner, Head of Health and Social Well Being Improvement (West), Public Health Agency presenting Gillian Kelly, manager, The Venue, with the first 'Gold Standard Award for Accessibility' at the Ebrington arena on Tuesday morning. The award recognises the centre's achievement in and commitment to, attitudes and awareness; access to information; communication; build environment and venue/event performance specific. Included from left are Amy Byrne, Sadie Bergin, Co-Operation and Working Together (CAWT), Cross Border Health, Sean Canavan, Independent Advisory Panel, Paul Doherty, Facilities Manager, The Venue, Aisling Irvine, Disability Action/Culture Company and Martin McGuinness, Steward, The Venue. DER3513JM001](https://www.northernirelandworld.com/webimg/legacy_oak_51298178.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![GOLD FOR THE VENUE!. . . .Brendan Bonner, Head of Health and Social Well Being Improvement (West), Public Health Agency presenting Gillian Kelly, manager, The Venue, with the first 'Gold Standard Award for Accessibility' at the Ebrington arena on Tuesday morning. The award recognises the centre's achievement in and commitment to, attitudes and awareness; access to information; communication; build environment and venue/event performance specific. Included from left are Amy Byrne, Sadie Bergin, Co-Operation and Working Together (CAWT), Cross Border Health, Sean Canavan, Independent Advisory Panel, Paul Doherty, Facilities Manager, The Venue, Aisling Irvine, Disability Action/Culture Company and Martin McGuinness, Steward, The Venue. DER3513JM001](/img/placeholder.png)
The announcement was made this morning, Thursday, by the Department of Social Development announcement.
The Venue is to be taken down in January after it was announced that there had been “a lack of private sector interest in its retention”.
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Hide AdAmong the first to express dismay at the decision was Foyle MP Mark Durkan, who said: “I regret that private sector interest in using or taking on The Venue has not been forthcoming. The Venue has been a huge asset to Derry during the City of Culture year.
“People have seen the real difference it has made and the range of events it has been able to accommodate and attract. It would seem, at this particularly difficult economic time, that the numbers and prospective revenue for such private sector players have not stacked up.
“However, I am one of those who firmly believes that Derry needs a venue of such scale and capacity as a permanent fixture in the city.”