The Stage

Hewitt defends ACE’s methods over funding cuts

Published Wednesday 2 January 2008 at 13:45 by Lalayn Baluch

Criticism of the way Arts Council England handled the scores of proposed cuts to UK performing arts companies has been dismissed by chief executive Peter Hewitt, who claimed that ACE has been “very clear and open” with organisations about its timescales and objectives.

His comments come in response to a letter written by National Campaign for the Arts director Louise de Winter, which called upon ACE to satisfy the “lack of adequate notice given to organisations facing cuts and the accompanying short timescale for appeal”.

De Winter also challenged ACE to state why concerns about artistic quality were not raised with some companies, although they were later used as a reasons for the cash cuts.

Last month, 194 of ACE’s 990 regularly funded organisations were told that they were to receive a subsidy cut or complete withdrawal of funding from April 2008 and were given until mid-January to appeal against the decision.

While Hewitt conceded that the timescale was not “ideal”, he said that due to Christmas, organisations were given five weeks, rather than four, to submit appeals. He also said that the decisions would have been made a year earlier had it not been for the late announcement of the comprehensive spending review.

Hewitt added: “Under the circumstances, I am not sure how we could have been clearer or what more we could have done.

“We have taken a deliberate decision that we will seek to introduce the new funding arrangements - including the 80 organisations we are proposing to introduce to our portfolio - as soon as possible after the start of the new financial year. This would enable us to get the best value for our audiences from our investments over the full term of the three-year funding cycle.”

Among those affected by the funding cuts are the Northcott Theatre in Exeter and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, which will each lose approximately £500,000 per year, and Eastern Angles touring company, which is facing a 50% cut. Meanwhile, the Drill Hall and London Bubble face a total cash loss if their appeals are unsuccessful.

However, Hewitt has emphasised that the wider context of the changes meant positive news for most, and said the new strategy would “deliver a stronger, more vibrant and accessible arts sector over the next three years”.