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It would seem that those in the arts are always moaning on about how low the levels of funding are in this country. This is often dismissed as whinging from a sector of society who are perceived as needing a grant before they get b up in the morning. Opera, say its critics, is an overfunded pursuit for the minority. But others say the money for the arts isn't enough. Only recently Gerry Robinson, chairman of the Arts Council of England, described the £200 million that it receives from the government each year as 'peanuts'. "What is £200 million? It's enough to buy a couple of F1-11 fighters" Here in Wales we can only dream about such sums. Wales, via the National Assembly of Wales, gets just over £14 million a year, hardly comparable with England. And if the difference in the two sum,s doesn't appal you, may westgate point something else out? The Arts Council of England will next year spend £10 million - more than two-thirds of Wales's entire arts funding - on simply promoting the arts in England to encourage people who "wouldn't dream of going to the arts to give it a try". It does make the achievements of professional artists within Wales even more extraordinary. But interesting things are happening within the walls of the Arts Council of Wales. Amid rumours of dissent from staff against the management, and high profile appeals from theatres against some of the quango's decisions, tension does seem to be running high. At a recent public meeting ion Cardiff at the city's International Arena, security guards were posted at the doors. A touch of paranoia perhaps? |
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Friday, December 17, 1999 |
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