The Stage

Gwent Theatre challenges ACW cuts

Published Thursday 15 July 2010 at 11:26

Gwent Theatre is challenging Arts Council Wales over the reasons behind its decision to withdraw funding, saying the cut would “almost certainly spell the end” for the venue.

The theatre, which plays to schools and community groups throughout the area, has tabled a number of questions for a meeting with ACW today (July 15) and following this, and a subsequent meeting of the venue’s board, will decide whether or not to formally appeal the decision.

ACW announced plans to reduce its portfolio of revenue-funded organisations by almost a third last month, following an investment review.

Under the proposals, Gwent Theatre, which receives the equivalent of 78% of its budget from its arts council grant, would lose its core funding from ACW on March 31, 2011. It would be eligible for project funding.

Gwent Theatre artistic director Gary Meredith said: “We provide a lot of work and during the course of a year we play to and work with in excess of 20,000 young people, which is a substantial number for a small company.”

In a statement, the chair of Gwent Theatre board Gregg Taylor said the venue’s company of six people will all lose their jobs if the funding cut goes ahead. He added the board was “at a loss to understand how ACW can have arrived at its decision”.

ACW chief executive Nick Capaldi said: “Our investment review has been one of the most detailed examinations of funding that we’ve ever undertaken. Our council was clear that it wanted to be bold and to take decisions that would help arts organisations in Wales to thrive, not merely survive. Council concluded that it was currently spreading its funds too thinly and decided it needed to focus on a smaller number of organisations.

“Sadly, Gwent Theatre was one of the organisations that we decided we would be unable to revenue fund from next year. As with all organisations in this position, we will be meeting with Gwent Theatre to discuss what options might be available in the future. Until we meet, we don’t know what those options might be. Gwent Theatre has been a stalwart provider of theatre for many years and we’ll do whatever we can to explore any appropriate ways forward.”

In 2009/10, Gwent Theatre delivered 220 performances in 219 schools, held 81 theatre workshops and its Gwent Young People’s Theatre staged seven productions. The theatre was established in 1976 and is one of a network of eight professional Theatre in Education companies spanning Wales.