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Funding cut hits London's arts groups
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent14 Dec 2007
Nearly a fifth of arts organisations in London are to lose their Arts Council funding.
Venues such as the Drill Hall theatre off Tottenham Court Road and organisations such as Bubble, which organises promenade theatre, shows and community education in south London, are among the 53 hit.
All were told by letter this week that their funding was being stopped in the new financial year starting at the beginning of April.
Some have already issued redundancy letters to staff or are preparing to do so because the decision means they are - or are on the verge of - trading while insolvent.
Major organisations such as the National Theatre and the long-troubled English National Opera escaped the cuts. Both organisations are among those that will receive an inflationary increase of 2.7 per cent on current funding - which was what most had hoped for after a better-than-expected settlement between the Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Some bodies are getting a real-terms rise.
A spokeswoman for the Arts Council in London said it had used this spending round to look at which organisations were under-performing and to reflect that in the grants awarded.
"In the majority of cases this has been decided on the basis of fairly long-held and well-documented issues with poor performance. It is the strength of the artistic output."
In a handful of cases the Arts Council had decided individual organisations were not a priority or had alternative funding options, she added.
Across the country 194 out of the Arts Council's portfolio of 990 regularly funded organisations are being axed, although some will receive transitional funding. All bodies have the opportunity to appeal.
However, 75 per cent are receiving at least an inflation increase and 211 are getting above inflation rises.
Julie Parker, artistic director of the Drill Hall, said backers were shocked to learn its £250,000-a-year grant - out of a £1.2 million turnover - was being axed. "We produce work of the highest quality. We're solvent and we have had reserves for the last four years," she said. "To withdraw funding in something like 12 weeks is reprehensible. People are shocked. I hope that people who have enjoyed our work and understand what it means in the cultural context of London will make their views clear."
The Drill Hall has been operating as a theatre venue for 30 years and is Britain's leading producer of lesbian and gay performance.
Sandy Craig, chairman of the board of London Bubble Theatre Company, said it was to lose its £420,000-a-year grant - which constituted about half its funding. He was taking legal advice today. "We'll have to close. I feel very angry. I feel there has been no process of consultation and there has been no research done by the Arts Council in terms of what the financial impact might be."
The company works in Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich and produces theatre such as The Tinderbox Christmas show now on at the Albany.
The Pop-Up Theatre company for children, which is based in Islington, has also been told its £194,000 grant has not been recommended for renewal. Michael Dalton, the artistic director, said not renewing funding could threaten its work with 15,000 young people every year. It has been running for more than 25 years.
"Pop-Up is stronger than ever before and significantly contributes to theatre for young people - an area that the Arts Council claim is a priority for them," he said. "It is a shame that the opinions of our audience were not sought by the Arts Council before reaching this unjustifiable decision."
About £1.25 million will be saved from cutting grants to the 53 bodies in London to be redistributed to others.
Reader views (7)
I am very sorry to read about this, however, I hope that funding can be given to African Caribbean drama projects that have been established for over twenty years in Great Britain. These projects tend to make sacrifices in order that drama can be accessible to an excluded and isolated community. They were the first to see the talent and nurture it. If you look on the background of established and well known actors many were influence by the local struggling drama group. I have been delivering drama workshops and now LAMADA qualifications to young people and adults giving them opportunities to perform in a professional production. Two of our children actors are now starring in Lion King and Eastenders. Many of them have gained confidence and high self esteem through the acting experience. I achieved my MA at Goldsmith College strictly through my voluntary work and working unpaid teaching drama. It is about time that the ARTS COUNCIL look on these grassroots that are really making a difference i.e. The Stylisters Children and youth/urban Short Cuts/Big Peopels Theatre and BAP Theatre both base in Haringey Tottenham.
- Lorna Blackman Ma Director Of The Stylisters Children And Youth Big Peoples Theatre, Tottenham London, 02/09/2009 11:43
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I find it fascinating that the Arts Council, apparently, have no drama specialists on their panel.
What credentials have they for these decsions? Since when has there been a policy of a central government funded organisation dictating artistic output from any arts organisation? How do they define 'under performing"? So many questions - so few answers. They seem to be holding a political and target driven gun to all these companies' heads.
The list of well established companies covering every aspect of theatre going from minority interest to broad church is staggering - from the Drill Hall to the Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford, from The Bush to the Bristol Old Vic - together with many more.
Arts Council England should be disbanded and regional bodies given more say - or at the very least ensure that there are theatre practioners in the organisation.
Failing companies, of course, should be accountable - but from the list of organisations that have been targetted - quite a few of them are successful - and as far as I gather have been leaping through hoops for some time to try and satisfy ACE's ridiculous requests.
I hope audiences, practioners, supporters of theatre - and anyone in the printed and electronic media will make a lot of noise about this
- L. Bassett, UK, 06/01/2008 11:37
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Arts Council cuts to The Drill Hall sends a message that this type of theatre is not of value in our culture or included in culture diversity. It is experimental political cutting-edge theatre that struggles to survive in our society; so why cut funding from those who make innovative work happen ? As the Artistic Director of an emerging gay theatre company who is supported by both organisations, I am shocked, outraged and devastated.
- Joey Hateley, Manchester, 21/12/2007 19:21
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This Government and Arts Council should hang their heads in shame. All the cuts are a disgrace. We manufacture nothing, but we do have a great Arts tradition. I see "it's to be misery for all" is this the new Arts Council cry now?
- Derrick J. Goodwin, Stratford upon avon, 18/12/2007 10:31
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This is an outrageous decision - and will blight Britain's cultural heritage irreparably (Bristol Old Vic, Derby Playhouse, National Student Drama Festival, Exeter Northcutt all at risk too). What is the point of having subsidised theatre if companies of this calibre are allowed to go to the wall? And how much is the Olympics costing us? And how much is being made up of Lottery money, that should have gone to the arts? This is a great shame, and not just for all the artistic folk who will lose their jobs, but also for the fabric of this nation.
- Clareine Cronin, London, England, 17/12/2007 20:24
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The Drill Hall will close down if the proposed cuts go through. The Drill Hall holds an important place in the varied London theatre scene. It’s showcasing of work with a gay and lesbian theme is innovative and far sighted and a great credit to our wonderful, tolerant and culturally eclectic capital. The Drill Hall is a unique national asset! It distinguishes us from other capitals and at a time when we are celebrating diversity in the run up to the 2012 Olympics starving it of funds sends out a negative, conservative message to London, the UK, Europe and the World.
- Derek, London, 17/12/2007 16:34
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The Arts Council shows its complete lack of understanding about social inclusion and diversity, supporting largely mainstream and a few token other causes. This is thoroughly reprehensible and will decimate London cultural provision and no doubt other areas of the country.
- Kate D'Accosta, London UK, 15/12/2007 10:44
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