|
letter from the ITC to Sybil Crouch, Chair of ACW
|
Dear Sybil
Following a meeting of the Board, I am writing to outline ITC's concerns with the Arts Council of Wales' drama strategy and to make some proposals for a way forward. This is intended to be an honest and constructive letter and I would be grateful if it could be circulated to all your fellow Council members. We hope that our suggestions can be included in your discussions on 11th February.
We understand that at this meeting you will be discussing the abandoned strategy for young people's theatres. You should be aware that ITC finds the suggestion that you might suspend this element of the strategy, after making offer letters to five companies (October 22nd 1999) extraordinary. As you know all five have entered into contracts, have started to develop their organisations and their relationships with schools and other partners on the basis of your offers. Although we would like to avoid legal action if at all possible we have instructed a firm of solicitors, Lovells, to look into this. Joanna Weston will have received a letter from them.
We are aware that the situation is complex. We therefore propose that the Arts Council employ an independent mediator to consider the best way forward. We would prefer this person to be from a legal background and that they consider the best outcome for all parties in terms of equity and not politics. It is essential that this be put in place as soon as possible.
We also have the following recommendations to make in relation to the drama strategy:
Firstly, the new writing strategy should be suspended. The proposal allows for too small a quantity of new work and the case for a bilingual company needs open debate before a final decision is made.
Secondly, we are concerned that the proposed project funds (apparently, a key element to the strategy) will be less than they are currently. We would like reassurance that this is not the case.
In the long term, unless the Council can demonstrate significant change and improvement, ITC is not confident that the Council can deliver a sustainable strategy. The lack of clarity of the assessment process, the inability of decisions to be delivered to deadlines, the uncertainty as to who is involved in decision making and on whose authority decisions are taken has contributed to this position. ITC members in Wales - with the full support of ITC - are agreed that they are not prepared to enter into any further reviews, which involve competitive bids until these points are addressed.
Finally, the Board of ITC has asked me to stress how dismayed we are at the Arts Council of Wales' apparent failure to consider artists' and practitioners' needs, during this long drawn out, painful and distressing episode. We are deeply concerned by the low morale that individuals are suffering. This continues for those still awaiting a decision on the new writing initiative and the situation the Council has placed the five TIE/TYP companies to whom you have offered fixed term funding, is intolerable artistically and professionally.
You state that it is the duty of the Arts Council to support individual artists: the handling of the implementation of an unpopular and in our view impracticable strategy has been devastating to Welsh practitioners - we are particularly concerned as to how their motivation can be restored. Your views on this would be most welcome.
I look forward to hearing from you on these points and our Director would be happy to discuss the implications of our recommendations. I look forward to your response to this letter and would be grateful if it could be no later than 18th February 2000.
Yours sincerely
Matthew Jones
Chair
Cc Joanna Weston
Tom Middlehurst
|
ITC
web site: |
e-mail: |
Tuesday, February 8, 2000 |
|
|
|
|
Older news
stories have been carefully archived.
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999
