camden-news-grants

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden New Journal - by TOM FOOT
Published: 20 December 2007

Show cancelled after grant cuts

A Camden theatre has had to cancel its current show because of swingeing cuts imposed by the Arts Council.
The country’s leading gay and lesbian theatre, Drill Hall in Bloomsbury, has closed its current show Bitch Slapped By God after the Arts Council announced its £250,000 had been axed.
Artistic director Julie Parker said: “We have been working with gay, lesbian and queer artists at the Drill Hall for 30 years, producing work of the highest quality.
“This is devastating news. We produce work of the highest quality. To withdraw funding in this way is reprehensible.”
She added that the theatre would appeal the decision before the funding window closes in January and has urged friends of the playhouse to show their support by signing a petition on their website.
A spokeswoman for the Arts Council said: “Our proposal to the Drill Hall is about what we consider to be consistently poor performance in terms of finance and business planning.”
A spokeswoman for Hampstead Theatre said they were also in talks with the Arts Council over potential cuts but would not comment until the late January deadline for appeals had closed.
Blame for the cuts is being laid on the Department of Culture and Sport, believed to be siphoning funds away from the arts to finance the 2012 Olympics.
However, established theatres like the English National Opera have escaped the cuts while the Roundhouse has had its funding boosted from £600,000 to £1 million.
An Arts Council spokeswoman said: “Our aim is to fund strong, effective organisations that will help excellent art to flourish.”

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: