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AUCTION OF OUR HERITAGE - FINAL EVENT STAGED AT THEATR GWYNEDD |
With less than twenty four hours until the auction of the facilities of Theatr Gwynedd in Bangor, there has been no response from Rhodri Morgan, First Minister, Welsh Assembly Government, to the challenge issued to, and received by him on Friday, 24 October 2008, from representatives of The Voice of Theatr Gwynedd’s Audience. The Assembly Government was challenged to offer a reasonable sum to the liquidators of Theatr Gwynedd Company, so that the auction of the theatre’s facilities scheduled for this Thursday, 30 October 2008, could be cancelled, and so that Theatr Gwynedd’s facilities can be retained, and the Theatr mothballed, rather than closed permanently. As no response has been received as yet, it seems that the public auction will go ahead at 10am tomorrow, Thursday, 30 October 2008. However, it is still not too late to save the theatre, if the Welsh Assembly Government is serious about its commitment to the voters in North West Wales. Apparently the auction is not expected to raise a significant sum, as the facilities are all second hand. Says Ann Jones, one of the campaigners, “The guts have been ripped out of our theatre, everything has been labeled, and awaits its fate tomorrow. Once they have been sold, that spells the end of our quality theatre provision in North West Wales, for at least two years, and perhaps for ever, if funding for the proposed new Arts Centre cannot be secured. Events staged in shopping centres and schools will take us back to the situation pre 1975 when Theatr Gwynedd opened, which is totally unacceptable.” The Welsh Assembly Government was also challenged to invest at least £1 million in Theatr Gwynedd in North West Wales, in order to preserve quality provision for a minimum of two years, and at least until funding for the new Arts Centre has been secured. Mr Morgan was asked to consider this request in the context of the additional £13.5 million awarded to the Millenium Centre in Cardiff in November 2007; and also the £1.9 million given to the National Botanic Gardens in Carmarthenshire in February 2008 in order to pay off their overdraft. Says campaigner Lionel Gardner, “The theatre staff, the audience, and the community in North West Wales, have been ignored, and are disappointed once again at the attitude of their elected representatives towards a matter of supreme importance to this area and its residents.” For further information, please contact: Ann Jones on 07831 352393, or ann.jos@btinternet.com or Lionel Gardner, 01248 362909 on behalf of The Voice of Theatr Gwynedd’s Audience |
| The Voice of Theatr Gwynedd’s Audience web site: |
| e-mail: ann.jos@btinternet.com |
Monday, October 27, 2008 |
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