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Gwent AMs Back Gwent Theatre Protest
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Five Welsh Assembly Members greeted Gwent Theatre supporters when they presented a 5,740-strong petition against the withdrawal of funding by the Arts Council of Wales.
Speaking on the steps of the Senedd, Christine Chapman AM, chair of the Petitions Committee, assured everyone that it would be looked at carefully and said the committee would remain open for people to make further submissions up to mid-December.
Ms Chapman also said she would ensure that the Communities and Culture Committee – who are holding an inquiry into access to the arts for children and young people – were made aware of the petitions.
The 30-strong group delegation were also greeted by Gwent AMs Lynne Neagle, John Griffiths, Nick Ramsay, William Graham and Veronica German.
Gregg Taylor, Chair of Gwent Theatre, said a political solution was needed to ensure that funding for Gwent Theatre was reinstated.
Gwent Theatre supporters, including members of Gwent Young People’s Theatre, then walked to the nearby Arts Council of Wales HQ to hand in a sack with 740 letters of protest addressed to the Chief Executive Nick Capaldi. After they packed the reception area asking to see him in person, both Mr Capaldi and Chairman Dai Smith left a meeting to confront the supporters. They were met not only with the sack of letters but also with a letter from the head of West Mon School, Pontypool, which had also provided support to the petition with the signatures of 500 staff and students.
Mr Taylor said that despite a volley of questions there were “still no clear responses from the Arts Council.” Questions ranged from the axing of funding from the most deprived areas of Wales; the lack of a strategy for the arts for young people; the destruction of a highly successful company delivering theatre to 23,000 young people annually; the vacuum that would subsequently be left; and the unfair approach which failed to fulfil the Assembly’s own strategy for inclusion, social justice and equality.
“They appeared to be more concerned that their autonomy is being challenged,” said Mr Taylor.
“All we are seeking is for the Arts Council to explain itself and be accountable for its decisions. There were no full minutes of the meetings which cut our funds so it is difficult to find out what criteria was used to eliminate companies from future investment.
“However we were told by Dai Smith that the evidence of strong public feeling against this funding cut would be reported to the next Arts Council meeting.”
Gwent Theatre understands there is disquiet among some ACW members and we hope they will successfully call for this cut to be halted and for funding to be reinstated.
Mr Taylor said “There is still time if they act quickly.”
Gwent Theatre was the model for all theatre in education in Wales and has been built up over 35 years. The company reaches 23,840 young people through performances and workshops delivered across the full age-range of education.
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Gwent Theatre
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Saturday, December 4, 2010 |
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