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Implementation of the Arts Council of Wales Drama strategy
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Purpose:
To advise the Committee of the Arts Councils decisions on theatre in education in Wales, and its implications for local government. To draw attention to the responses of local authorities in Wales and to propose a way forward. To highlight concerns which have been raised about the drama strategy. By way of example that there are possible alternatives to the proposals (a copy of one such alternative national drama strategy prepared by Michael Bogdanov and Phil Clarke was attached to this report and is available here)
Background:
Earlier this year the Arts Council set out a new Drama Strategy for Wales. One key proposal was the reduction in the number of theatre companies funded by the ACW to provide theatre in education from eight to four. In addition the overall funding available to the companies is to reduce by £200,000, which the ACW has identified as being utilised for youth theatre. It is not clear at this stage whether any of this money is available to the companies affected.
A consultation meeting was held with the WLGA, but there was concern that the views expressed there do not appear to have been accurately or adequately reflected in the outcome of this consultation., However the number of franchises was increased from four to five.
Local authorities are major funders of theatre in education in Wales, both directly and through payment for performances by schools. Continuing pressure on local authority budgets has reduced the amount of money available for grant to theatre in education, and it is widely recognised that some restructuring of the sector was inevitable.
However, local government has consistently argued that any process of change should be properly managed if the provision was not to be jeopardised. there is concern that the process of change was not properly managed in this instance. In particular
local authorities as key partners have been excluded from full involvement in the process
the process adopted has not been transparent and therefore it cannot be demonstrated that it has been fair.
the time allowed for transition is too short to guarantee sustainability.
the continuation of local authority support is in danger of being undermined.
the new franchise holders have insufficient resources to cover their expanded areas.
Directors of Education and Leisure were surveyed to establish whether they wished to cal for a suspension of the Arts Council process to allow any changes to be introduced in a way that expressed these concerns. the overwhelming majority supported such an approach, although one authority was happy that the process had been fair, and did not want it to be suspended.
Three theatre companies are particularly affected by their failure to win franchises, and each of these must now consider the future for the individuals affected. Two of the companies face closure, one of which (theatr Powys) is directly operated by a local authority which directly employs all of the staff
Even if the changes are to go ahead, there needs to be sufficient time to establish whether TUPE applies, and to look for ways of securing the retention of as much as possible of the existing skills and expertise. Again, if the change is to happen, there should be some consideration given to possible mergers of companies to achieve this result.
In order to allow sufficient time for the resolution of these issues, it is proposed that the Arts Council should be asked to suspend the process for six months. It is acknowledged that this might have consequential impacts on other spending proposals, and it is therefore suggested that the WLGA should explore with the ACW whether there may be other sources of funds available to bridge the gap, including a possible approach to the National Assembly.
As a consequence of the debate within local government in Wales which the ACW decision has engendered, there has been considerable discussion about the Drama Strategy as a whole, and whether it represents the best possible future for drama in Wales
there are alternative proposals as mentioned earlier, which have been developed and should possibly be given further consideration in order to ensure "best value" and sustainablity of provision and access.
the Post-16 Education and Training Committee of the National Assembly has been announced that it is to review its Cultural Strategy, and given this it would seem appropriate to suspend the implementation of any major proposals until the outcome of this review is known.
the primary interest of local government in Wales is that the future provision of theatre in education should be secure. there is a need to address the issue of sustainablity, but the current proposals do not allow sufficient time for a managed process of change. It is essential that as a major provider and supporter of the Arts in Wales that Local Government is consulted by the Assembly Committee. The current published list of consultees excludes the Association.
Recommendations
It is recommended that the Committee:
calls for the suspension of the current process to allow for a managed process of change to be developed
asks the Arts Council to identify sufficient funds to allow greater time for any changes to go ahead
calls on the National Assembly Post 16 Education and Training Committee to include the Drama Strategy as part of its review of Cultural Strategy and draws its attention to the existence of alternatives that may merit consideration
notes with disappointment the exclusion of local government from the list of consultees for the Cultural Strategy Review and requests that the Chair of the Committee acts promptly to remedy the omission
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Welsh Local Government Association co-ordinating c
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Friday, December 17, 1999 |
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