Kneecap to appear in High Court over UK government’s grant block
The Belfast trio say they’re now challenging the government’s decision to revoke their arts council funding application
Belfast rap trio Kneecap have been granted permission to challenge the UK government in High Court after their arts council funding application was revoked in February.
The group are set to appear in High Court on November 14, 2024, to appeal the decision, explaining on Instagram: “We’ve been granted permission to challenge the Secretary of States decision.”
“That means we have cleared the first legal hurdle and the Judge has ruled that the case is arguable with a reasonable prospect of success,” they wrote. “The Secretary of State must now file evidence justifying their position.”
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In February, Kneecap released a statement to Twitter claiming they were being silenced by the UK government after having an arts council funding application blocked.
The group’s application for the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) had been approved and granted, the statement explained, but was later "blocked and overruled” by the UK government.
The MEGS grant offers up to £50,000 to UK-registered musicians and music companies, giving artists overseas a platform to boost their careers internationally.
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The group claimed that their 2019 ‘Farewell to the Union’ tour poster had “pissed off the Tories”, explaining: “Once again the British government is trying to silence voices from west Belfast - once again it will fail!”.
A spokesperson for UK Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said that they didn’t want to give “taxpayer money” to artists who “oppose the United Kingdom itself”.
Kneecap are now hoping for a victory at High Court, where they look to overrule the decision made by the UK government earlier this year with “a reasonable prospect of success”.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter
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