Curtailed scheme to continue free ticket offer until March

Published Monday 28 June 2010 at 17:24 by Natalie Woolman

Venues participating in Arts Council England’s A Night Less Ordinary scheme can continue to offer free tickets to under-26 year olds until next March, despite the government’s announcement that the scheme is to be “curtailed”.

ACE has agreed with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that during the curtailment, which the DCMS hopes will save £100,000, all contracts with existing ANLO venues will be honoured but no new theatres will be admitted.

ACE will stop marketing the scheme centrally, although the initiative’s stand-alone website will remain operational.

In a letter to the participating venues, seen by The Stage, ACE’s director of engagement and participation Phil Cave says the arts council is “very disappointed” that the initiative is being curtailed nine months before it is due to finish.

He adds: “We have spoken to the department to agree exactly what curtailment means and to ensure that the winding down is handled in the best way to obtain maximum value, and a real legacy, from the scheme.”

Any theatres that want to cease their membership of the scheme must contact ACE by noon this Friday, otherwise the arts council will presume ANLO members wish to continue until March 31, 2011.

Theatres which continue as members of the scheme will receive the final two payments of their grant.

While in opposition, the Conservative culture team were highly critical of the free ticket scheme, which was launched by then culture secretary Andy Burnham at a Labour Party Conference in 2008.

The curtailment of ANLO was announced as part of plans unveiled by the DCMS to make £73 million of savings.