University of Ulster
Londonderry BT48 7JL
Mr Peter Hewitt,
Chief Executive,
Arts Council England,
14 Great Peter Street,
London,
SWIP 3NQ
22 January 2008
Dear Mr Hewitt,
As Chair of the Standing Conference of University Drama Departments, I wish to communicate the great concern of members at the funding decisions announced recently by Arts Council England. We have been made aware of worrying contradictions in the reasons given for funding cuts which, irrespective of the merits of individual cases, suggest that there should be more clarification of the policies which have underpinned the process. Our members have also raised issues regarding the short period of time between notification of funding decisions and the deadline for appeals; the criteria and methodology used to arrive at the decisions; and the lack of consultation with the artistic community.
For students,
academics and researchers at a time when the numbers studying drama on
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes have reached unprecedented levels,
there will be a number of serious consequences. Access to the current diversity
of live performance across England will be threatened. Opportunities for
student work placement and related vocational experience which are based on
well-established relationships between arts organisations and university
departments,will be reduced.
Reductions in the overall number of companies receiving public funding
will inevitably then reduce future jobs available in the creative industries.
Given also the recommendations of the McMaster report, we should also point out
that a diverse range of thriving activities in the dynamic environment which
funding ensures, is key to stimulating the high quality of work across the
board.
Our students are taught to believe strongly that
live performance in the United Kingdom is a valuable cultural asset for all
members of our society, and we would expect the Council to safeguard this
fundamental belief. We
would ask the Council to review the decisions which have been made and the
policies which have given rise to them as a matter of urgency. We would welcome
the opportunity to be included in the consultation process.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Tom Maguire
Chair, Standing Conference of University Drama Departments