The Stage

Pugh defends controversial policies for arts in Wales

Published Monday 16 January 2006 at 13:55

Welsh arts minister Alun Pugh has hit back against criticism of his decision to take the country’s six major cultural organisations under government control and not to reappoint Arts Council Wales chairman Geraint Talfan Davies.

Pugh said the changes were necessary in order to place increased participation at the heart of arts policy, adding that the role of ministers was to ensure the “appropriate infrastructure, policy development and governance is in place with regard to public funding”.

He told assembly members: “The reality is I want to see public money invested in the arts reaching all communities. There is a need to reform for the future in order to ensure that we continue as a nation to develop excellent arts, with access for all.”

But opposition politicians replied that Mr Pugh had been “serially evasive” in failing to answer criticisms. Lisa Francis, Tory culture spokesperson, said the minister was “a cultural philistine” pumping out “ill-rehearsed waffle”.

The Welsh Assembly’s three minority parties - who, combined, possess a majority over Labour - have now won a full debate on the issue, which they intend to cap with a motion blocking the transfer of the six organisations to the culture department.