News – Outrage as Assembly removes ACW Chair

Relations between the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and the Arts Council of Wales (ACW) appear to have broken down irrevocably following WAGs decision not to reappoint ACWs well-respected Chair, Geraint Talfan Davies. The decision not to renew his term of office beyond March was taken just before Christmas and appears to have left the already strained relationship between WAG and ACW in tatters.

Informing Davies of the decision, WAGs First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, suggested that priority would be placed on finding a Chair who could lead on the issue of increasing attendance and participation amongst disadvantaged groups. An emergency session of ACWs governing Council was held on 3 January and a letter was sent to WAGs First Minister expressing concern at the decision, citing it as the latest in a number of moves designed to undermine ACW. In a statement, Janet Roberts, Vice-Chair of ACW, said, the proposal to transfer six of the Councils largest client organisations from the Council to the Culture Department  announced in November 2004  represent[ed] a major breach in the arms-length principle that has been observed across the UK for nearly 60 years. Despite our reservations we have, since then, observed a public restraint in all our statements in the hope of engaging the Government in serious dialogue to find a mutually acceptable solution. We believe such a solution is possible. In 14 months there has been no such dialogue, and our proposals have been summarily rejected. We have, to date, received no considered response to our arguments or ideas& A public body like the Arts Council also needs a specific range of skills if it is to govern itself effectively and discharge its duty of care for public funds. If we cannot recruit those skills we put the effectiveness of the Council, both as a guardian of public money and a development agency for the arts, at risk. We deeply regret the decision to abandon those criteria without consultation.