PlatForm ? The price of excellence – by Liz Hill and Brian Whitehead, Co-editors

After nearly a decade of Lottery capital investment in the arts, it may seem a little unrealistic for the Theatres Trust and others to suggest passing the hat around for a further £250m to improve London?s theatre stock over the next 15 years (p1).
For those critical of the disproportionately skewed sum already invested in London?s arts capital projects, this might seem like a further diversion from the equally important need for regional capital investment. However, the Theatres Trust has a good business case to argue. Through its unquestioned ability to attract the tourist £ (and ? and $), the West End is a highly successful generator of revenues, not only for its impresarios, casts and companies, but also for the capital itself and the national economy. Whilst economic arguments can be made for supporting London?s theatres, there are also strong cultural arguments. Ultimately a choice has to be made between allowing such national treasures to fade slowly away, or to halt their decline by investing in their restoration. This involves the costly business of bringing them up to a standard that meets public expectations of comfort, safety and accessibility. But, who should foot the bill?

As Estelle Morris settles into her role as Arts Minister, she has rightly acknowledged that maintaining standards of excellence and improving access are not mutually exclusive (p3); but they do pose a number of problems for the arts funding system ? particularly when commercial operators are involved. Tickets prices for some West End shows have rocketed in recent years, reflecting their susceptibility to simple market forces under which increased demand leads to higher prices. But high ticket prices are a fundamental barrier to access, and any government subsidising capital investment will surely demand the same standards of accessibility and excellence required from the subsidised sector. Whether or not the commercial operators would be willing to play ball is another question entirely.