The Arts Council of Wales (ACW) says it has "deep concern" over the way Culture Minister Alun Pugh has handled the appointment of a new chair. Geraint Talfan Davies said he would not seek the job again after being told he would not automatically be reappointed when his three-year term ends. The ACW is writing to various bodies voicing its concerns. A spokesman for the assembly government said Mr Pugh was due to make an announcement shortly over the issue. The row over the appointment of a new chair began in January when the minister announced that Mr Davies, a former BBC Wales controller, would not automatically be given an extension in the role. But the minister said he wanted to attract someone who would be able who could raise arts attendances among lower income groups. There have been calls for Mr Davies to be allowed to remain in post, as the ACW must defend its status in an assembly review of arts policy. Mr Pugh has a legal duty to appoint a chair by 1 April, but the post has not been advertised. On Friday, the board of the ACW unanimously backed Mr Davies and decided to tell the Commission for Public Appointments, the Charity Commissioner and the Wales Audit Office of their concerns about Mr Pugh's handling of the matter. The ACW also failed to appoint a vice-chair because it said that without a chair in place it did not know what sort of skills were needed. In a statement, the board said: "The ACW unanimously decided that the person best placed to lead the council through the current review as interim chair is the current chair Geraint Talfan Davies. "The council also expressed a wish that the public appointments procedure be properly followed in appointing a new chair." An assembly government spokesman said: "It's the minister for culture's responsibility to appoint the chair of the Arts Council of Wales. We have already said that the minister will make an announcement shortly." Mr Pugh has dismissed claims that the arts in Wales were becoming more politicised. The minister has argued for the need to widen access to the arts in more deprived areas, and said he wanted a chairman who would do that. |
| BBC Wales web site: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4842398.stm |
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Friday, March 24, 2006 |
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