The Government was taking stock after a shock defeat in the House of Commons last week. The Religious Hatred Bill, which sought to extend the concept of the UKs laws on racial hatred to include religious belief, had been amended by the House of Lords, and those amendments were upheld by the Commons. The news was welcomed by arts groups which had argued that the proposed legislation would have limited freedom of artistic expression. The National Campaign for the Arts said, The Lords amendments mean that someone charged with an offence will have to be shown to have used threatening language rather than the broader threatening, insulting and abusive, and that intent will have to be shown rather than recklessness (the Governments preference). The changes to the Bill ensure that artists are free to produce challenging, exciting and sometimes controversial works without fear of prosecution.
Meanwhile Jerry Springer The Opera has completed the first leg of its six-month national tour without incident. Just 35 protestors greeted the opening night of the tour at Plymouths Theatre Royal. Arts Council England (ACE) has now awarded £30,000 funding to support audience development work for the tour. An application for funding from commercial producers Avalon was rejected by ACE in 2005.
Published: 13-02-2006