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Taliesin Arts Centre
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Introduction
The University of Wales Swansea ('UWS') endorses the response to the strategy issued by the Presenting the Arts Group. This paper makes comments which are specific to UWS's arts centre, Taliesin, and to the likely impact of the strategy on audiences in Swansea and South/West Wales.
The University of Wales Swansea has an interest in cultural issues which have an impact on the institution and the community it serves.
Background
This is the first major review of drama policy by the Arts Council since the review of 1984 - "Priorities into Practice". As such it is a crucial document and through the linked expenditure decisions will have a major effect on drama provision in Wales well into the next millennium.
The 1984 policy review allowed for a 3 month period for response to a significant shift in ACW expenditure. There was uproar throughout the artistic and political constituencies on the shortage of time to discuss major issues of policy.
The current review allows for a bare 6 week consultation and a built in assumption that this is a "White Paper with green edges" i.e the consultation is only at the margins. Funding decisions will be implemented within 3 weeks of the close of the consultation period.
The draft strategy should be put out for more detailed consultation with all partners, including the Welsh Assembly.
A Drama Strategy for the next 10 years
The real challenge for the Arts Council - against a background of shrinking resources - is how to secure equality of opportunity/access to people across the whole of Wales to high quality drama performances.
The tragedy of this document is that it completely fails to address the inequality of provision which has been apparent for many years - and which is acknowledged in the Arts Council's own data. (ACW Corporate Plan 1999 - 2002).
The South/West and Valleys areas are notable for the lack of arts opportunities, arguably directly as a result of inequities in ACW funding policies.
Discussions with the authors of the strategy confirm the view of Taliesin and of colleagues throughout the constituency that the net effect of the spending proposals will further deprive communities outside Mold, Milford Haven and Cardiff of access to quality mainstream drama.
The Drama Strategy should specifically address the lack of drama provision/opportunities in the Valleys and S/West Wales.
Mainstream drama
It was decided as a result of "Priorities into Practice" (Welsh Arts Council 1984) to withdraw funding from the presenting venues in order to concentrate on funding product to tour to these venues. ("This policy was endorsed on the basis that receiving theatres and arts centres, as public facilities should obtain funding from their local authorities." "Priorities into Practice 7.3., 1984)
One of the principal intentions of this shift in funding policy was to address the need for "good quality mainstream theatre..." especially in respect of communities outside Mold and Milford Haven - served by Clwyd Theatr Cymru and Torch respectively.
The ineffectiveness of the policy became very apparent. The availability of touring drama created in Wales was entirely unpredictable. It was (and is ) impossible to build an audience for indigenous drama without any certainty that quality productions will be available from one season/year to the next.
In respect to the period 1999/200 - the first year in which the strategy will impact - Taliesin has not been offered any mainstream drama product from Wales.
It seems "inconceivable" that Swansea audiences should have no guarantee of access to a range of drama productions. The Drama Strategy must address the need for more activity touring to/based in Swansea.
Drama funding strategy
ACW has invested an increasing share of the drama budget in the building based theatre companies - and since 1996/7 in Clwyd Theatr Cymru.
These building - based companies were apparently not required by condition of grant to tour productions to other theatres. Inevitably perhaps, touring became a low priority for these companies in the face of rising costs and decreased local authority funding.
The latest "strategy" acknowledges the problems of under provision but proposes funding actions which will further exacerbate the problems/trends of the last fifteen years. Simply - we now have an excellent network of comfortable, safe, purpose built theatre and arts centres but little/no product to put on in them.
The Strategy must include actions to secure a minimum level of touring product which is available to theatres throughout Wales.
A National Theatre or Not?
In 1994/5 16% of the drama budget was allocated to Clwyd Theatr Cymru.
In 199/00 it is proposed to allocate 35% of the drama budget to Clwyd Theatr Cymru.
In order to achieve this major shift in resources at least 7 existing client companies will lose their grants.
Neither the draft strategy nor discussions with the authors explains how this major shift of resources will be of specific benefit to audiences throughout Wales.
The re -branding of Clwyd Theatr Cymru as in effect the National Theatre of Wales seems already to have taken place regardless of the consultation process.
Serious concerns have been raised throughout Wales on the implications of giving the bulk of drama funding to a single English language company. The Welsh Language is placed in a significantly inferior position and the decision raises issues regarding the Arts Council's policy in relation to the Welsh Language Act.
The history of ACW funding is littered with failures caused largely by the lack of any clear agreement between ACW and funded companies as to the conditions of grant.
Whatever Clwyd Theatr Cymru's status, i.e National or not - the strategy gives no explicit undertakings as to the responsibilities which must surely be agreed in return for the substantial investment of public money.
Drama @ Taliesin/in Swansea
The prospect looks bleak.
In the absence of guaranteed provision from the building based companies, Taliesin will be dependent on productions funded on a project basis.
It is very difficult to sustain, much less develop new audiences for drama when the provider is an ad hoc, underfunded group pulled together for the duration of a project.
Audiences are tired of "cut down classics" - Shakespeare with 2 people, no set, little rehearsal. It is difficult to argue against the view that better value is gained by driving to Stratford. Unfortunately this leaves nothing for those without the determination and the money to travel.
Taliesin/University of Wales Swansea seeks assurances from the Arts Council that the £3 million spent on drama in Wales will have direct benefit for the people of Swansea.
Young Peoples Theatre
It is difficult to comment on the proposal without any clear indication of what is meant by the use of the term YPT in this document.
On the basis of the limited information available it seems incredible to even consider axeing the highly regarded Theatre in Education provision without any discussion with the local authorities and schools as the principal partners/beneficiaries.
In the context of the Arts Council's "Arts & Young People Strategy" it should be noted that the proposal in the drama Strategy represents a substantial cut in expenditure benefitting young people.
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Taliesin Arts Centre
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Tuesday, March 9, 1999 |
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