Arts Council England East (ACEE) has announced plans to switch funding for young people?s theatre to one ?beacon? organisation which will undertake ?strategic development, commissioning, creation and distribution? of theatre for children and young people. Funding details for the new organisation have not been announced but a spokesperson for ACEE said it was ?categorically not a cost-cutting measure?; an invitation to tender for the running of the new organisation will be published next month.
The announcement coincides with the publication of Arts Council England?s new strategy for children, young people and the arts. It follows an audit of provision for young people?s theatre in the region in 2004, and means that Tiebreak and SNAP theatre companies, both of which have been active in the region for over twenty years, will have their funding axed in March 2006. Kaja Holloway, Administrator of Tiebreak Theatre said, ??the grant from ACEE forms a substantial part of Tiebreak?s funding? [The] Company is therefore looking for alternative sources of funding, but if nothing is in place by April, [it] will have no option but to close.?
Published: 26-09-2005