News – Welsh opposition sparks Assembly debate

A loose alliance of arts organisations, consultants and political parties has mobilised to challenge the decision of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) to remove the Chair of the Arts Council of Wales (ACW) and to strip it of its responsibility for six of the countrys major arts organisations. Culture Minister, Alun Pugh, decided not to take the customary step of reappointing the Chair, Geraint Talfan Davies, on the grounds that WAG wished to find a someone who could lead on the issue of increasing attendance and participation amongst disadvantaged groups. In a letter to the Minister, the Wales Association for the Performing Arts (WAPA), the main umbrella organisation for the performing arts in Wales, argued that the plans increase the likelihood of political interference and more directly politicising decisions taken at Assembly, Ministerial or Committee level.
Referring to a chorus of disapproval from the arts community, WAPA said that the decision to effectively sack the Chair further reinforces our belief that the Assembly Government seeks more direct and overt influence of policy directions in what is still by Royal Charter an independent body. Concern has been voiced at reports in the Welsh media that the six directly funded organisations will receive substantial uplifts in revenue funding while those organisations administered by ACW are likely to face a funding standstill. In the Western Mail, Alun Pugh responded to WAPAs criticisms: We need to reform the way that the arts are developed and funded by ACW, in order for the organisation to become more developmental in nature. With regard to the Big Six issue, I want to see our national companies being recognised for the contribution they make& [this] may involve longer-term funding in exchange for further audience building. Opposition political parties in the Welsh Assembly have united to force the Labour administration to hold a debate on the relationship with ACW, which is scheduled for 1 February.

Geraint Talfan Davies writes for AP in defence of the arms-length principle. See page 5.