Welsh Culture Minister, Alun Pugh, has come in for continued criticism from politicians and the arts community over his handling of the review into the role of the Arts Council of Wales (ACW).
At a debate in the Welsh Assembly last week, the Minister announced the personnel who will conduct the review, the terms of which were announced earlier last month (AP issue 118, 27 March). It will be Chaired by Elan Closs Stephens, Professor of Communications and Creative Industries at the University of Wales Aberystwyth and the outgoing Chair of S4C. The review is due to be concluded by the end of the year. Over this period, ACW will have an interim Chair, Professor Dai Smith, a well-respected member of the Arts Council. In naming Professor Smith, Pugh stood by his decision not to extend the term of office of former Chair, Geraint Talfan Davies, despite a direct request from ACW to name him as interim Chair and the refusal of Council members to suggest any alternative candidates for the post. Pugh was attacked in the Assembly for acting at the eleventh hour and for an appointments process that had been as clear as mud. One opposition Assembly Member suggested he had rung up members of the Council personally pleading with them to take the post of interim chair. Pugh dismissed his critics as being entirely fixated on issues of process and personalities. In a statement, Geraint Talfan Davies said, Although everyone would have wished to see a Chair appointed under proper process, I do urge the Council, the staff and the whole sector not to let go lightly of the unity that has been apparent in recent months, and to give the new Chair their support.
Published: 10-04-2006