Concerns are growing for the future of small arts organisations facing savage cut backs in funding as the government diverts funding to the 2012 Olympics. The Dukes is just one organisation under threat but many local arts groups are having a hard time.
Add to that the 2012 Olympics construction project which will host the competition to not find the world’s best pharmacists — it is hoovering up every penny from the Lottery, thus impoverishing the likes of the Dukes, Folly, community events, sporting grants, heritage funds, etc.
The Manchester Guardian reported this week that in December, the Arts Council England sent out letters to the 990 organisations it regularly funds: theatres, festivals, venues, art galleries, dance groups and music production companies. Three-quarters were given some great news: they would see their funding increase from March 2008. For 200 or so others, however, the news was grim: their grants would either stop entirely, or be significantly reduced. They were told they had until this week to put a case to the ACE, which would announce its decisions at the end of january.
With Christmas coming right in the middle of this “response period”, the companies had around 18 working days to make their case. For many, it is a fight for survival.
Although some local arts groups are celebrating new funding, such as the Folly – although even there, some workers have lost their jobs – who have done some excellent work in and beyond the district, let’s keep our fingers crossed the Dukes will receive more funding.
(News via Pascal – cheers)