Berwicks Maltings Theatre and Arts Centre has been caught in a maelstrom of sound and fury after making a request to its neighbouring local authority for financial support. The Arts Centre, Englands most northerly, currently receives £255,000 annually from its local authority, Berwick- upon-Tweed Borough Council. However, 41% of the Centres users are from outside the Borough.
The board of the Centre has been rejected for financial support by its neighbouring local authority, Scottish Borders Council, and subsequently has proposed a scheme to charge attenders not resident in the Borough higher prices for tickets to events at the Centre. Despite the fact that many local authorities nationally support arts organisations in neighbouring districts, the Centres proposals have been met with allegations of racism and the souring of cross-border relations. Trustee Maurice Ward said, About 41% of our customers come from outwith the borders of our borough& wider support [for the Centre] seems equitable. Were not going to go bust; just not thriving and having to dumb down our programme.