Arts Groups in Wales who have had their grants cut as a result of the Arts Council of Wales Investment Review have hit back at what they see as the damage to the cultural infrastructure of Wales that these will cause.Speaking after the Annual Conference of the Wales Association for the Performing Arts, WAPA Chair Chris Ryde summed up the overwhelming views of the companies and organisations that attended: “Let’s be clear” he said “this is an enormously difficult time for those concerned. The clients who have been retained by ACW cannot afford to speak out because ACW have made it clear that they reserve the right to revisit decisions in December; and those who have been cut are also fearful in case they prejudice any appeal or jeopardise the possibility of future funding, unlikely as that may be. But privately opinions have been unequivocal – the vast majority of companies and organisations believe the Arts Council has betrayed them. Why? Because the decision to cut 32 organisations will result in: • Irreparable damage to the whole arts ecology. These companies and groups were nurtured and supported by the Arts Council and are now going to close. They interweave into a complex and highly sophisticated structure which dismantled brick by brick will de-stabilise the whole sector. • Hundreds of practitioners, artists, actors and administrators losing their livelihoods. • The depletion of arts activity in many parts of Wales such as Monmouthshire, Powys and the South Wales Valleys. • The loss to Wales of some of the best arts practice in the UK • Major damage to the provision of arts for young people. ACW say this is an urgent priority so they should have brought forward a policy document and then made decisions accordingly, not the other way round. • The loss of up to a million pounds in local authority investment that matches that of the Arts Council in many of the 32 clients. It is hugely irresponsible of ACW to put that at risk. At times of stringent public sector spending, the arts need all the financial support it can muster. The groups believe that it is the primary duty of the Arts Council to act as a lead advocate for the arts. In bringing about the loss of significant local authority match funding, in destroying the livelihoods of hundreds of arts workers, and in depriving many areas of Wales of local arts provision, it has acted contrary to that duty and WAPA calls on the Assembly Government to hold the Arts Council fully to account. For further information connected with this contact Chris Ryde on 02920397971 or 07798750254 or email waparts@hotmail.com |
| WAPA web site: |
| Chris Ryde e-mail: waparts@hotmail.com |
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 |
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