The Stage

Talawa applauds ACE move to build ethnic arts centres

Published Tuesday 6 June 2006 at 15:35 by Alistair Smith

Talawa, the theatre company whose plans for the UK’s first black-led theatre were scuppered when Arts Council England removed £4 million of funding from the project, has welcomed proposals by ACE to funnel the money into at least four “centres of excellence” for ethnic performance groups across the country.

Judicial review proceedings are still ongoing over ACE’s decision to disinvest the company. However Talawa’s new artistic director Pat Cumper has called the Whose Theatre…? document a “turning point” for the sector. The report was produced after an independent consultation with black and minority ethnic artists commissioned by ACE.

Following the recommenations of the document that a linked network of buildings be set up, ACE ring-fenced the money it removed from Talawa, plus an additional £1 million to instigate plans for the sites.

“Talawa has held the flag high for some time,” explained Cumper. “So, to have four spaces like that would actually be a blessed belief… It feels to me that for the first time we have a real turning point and I would want Talawa to be a part of that.”

She added that Talawa was currently looking into setting up mediation proceedings with the arts council, and that since its building project had collapsed, ACE have been “systematically supportive” in helping the company to re-establish itself.