News
Save Gwent Theatre 27 July 2010
Many people have contacted Jessica expressing their concern about the withdrawal of funding from Gwent Theatre. Jessica absolutely agrees with constituents that funding shouldn’t be withdrawn and has therefore written to Nick Capaldi, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Wales, (please read a copy of the letter below) Alun Fred Jones AM, Minister for Heritage, expressing her disappointment and asking them to reconsider their decision.
If you also feel strongly that the theatre's funding shouldn’t be withdrawn, please support Jessica and write to both Nick Capaldi and Alun Fred Jones AM.
“Nick Capaldi,
Chief Executive,
Arts Council of Wales
Central Office
Bute Place
Cardiff
CF10 5AL
Dear Mr Capaldi, Re: Gwent Theatre, Newport
I am writing to ask you to review the withdrawal of the Arts Council funding (as part of the Investment Review) for the Gwent Theatre. I am hugely concerned that the loss of this funding will lead to the company’s closure. I understand the company may appeal and if they do they have my wholehearted support and that of other AMs and MPs I have spoken to. I know there is very strong support from communities in Gwent to see Gwent Theatre continue.
I have a long association with the company and I am very proud to have been closely involved with Gwent Theatre for 30 years ( including being a member of Gwent Young People’s Theatre) , and a Board Member for the last 4 years. I’ve seen first hand both as an MP attending performances in schools in my constituency and through my own experiences at school the quality (and quantity – the Arts Council itself has described Gwent Theatre as “prolific”) of work the Gwent Theatre produces.
It is extraordinary that I should have to make these basic arguments about the value of the arts to ACW. This relatively small amount of money has an enormous impact on the lives of a wide cross section of society. Surely this is exactly the sort of activity ACW should be praising, not axing. I appreciate that in the current economic climate cuts to the arts are inevitable. But surely the Arts Council should be enabling young people in these communities to access theatre at school or in the community as these are precisely the communities that are least likely to be able to access the arts on their doorstep.
It goes without saying that we must foster a love of arts whilst people are young, otherwise where will the future audiences come from. Its seems wrong to withdraw funding from those organisations that reach out to some of the most deprived communities in Gwent, whilst still providing funding to the traditional arts which are more commercially attractive for sponsorship. Through my own involvement with Gwent Young People’s Theatre I know that the young actors I met from all over Gwent had become inspired to join as a result of a Gwent Theatre production in school. Many of them went on to make performing their career and I’m sure will be making their views known.
As a Gwent MP with part of Monmouthshire in my constituency I am very alarmed that Gwent seems to be the only county in Wales where no organisation is funded from next March. You appear to be creating a cultural desert in Monmouthshire. If this is not the case I apologise, but I would be grateful if you could provide me with a list of Arts Council Funded programmes from next March by County.
I’m also concerned that the Arts Council seems to have defended its position by saying that you do not need to provide the same level of support in each county. Why should children and young people in Gwent not be entitled to the same level of provision as any other area in Wales? The five remaining Theatre in Education Companies in Wales will not provide the same service as they will not be able to replicate the network of contacts based on relationships built up over 30 years.
I understand that schools in Gwent will be offered productions and that Theatre Iolo/Arad Goch will eagerly be contacting Gwent schools, but inevitably the number of productions available to Gwent schools will drop. And the other companies will be reinventing the wheel. The upshot will be less work available to schools and less bookings from those schools. I am at a loss to understand how this decision has been made. Having seen a response from the Arts Council concerning Gwent Theatre’s future the impression seems to be given that the Company could continue. However this is clearly not the case given the provision from the Arts Council is winding up money and the Lottery grants, if successful, only amount to £30,000.
I would be most grateful for your comments and would be happy to meet with you to discuss this in person. I have also written to the Minister and First Minister.
Thank you for your help in this matter.
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
Jessica Morden MP Newport East"
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Get involved
If you want to get involved in the campaign to save Gwent Theatre you can contact them on 01873 853167