Harrogate Theatre faces Arts Council cuts
February 1, 2008
North Yorkshire’s highly regarded Harrogate Theatre has been informed that it has lost its appeal against the Arts Councils proposal to cut their annual funding. However the Arts Council did acknowledge the work and role of the Theatre in the District and has decided to reduce the grant by 64% rather than the intended 75% This means the annual grant will be reduced from £400’000 to £150’000. Harrogate Theatre is one of 190 arts organisations, which received letters in December outlining withdrawal or drastic cuts to their Arts Council grants from April.
Harrogate Theatre will continue to provide a dynamic, challenging and entertaining arts service for the District and this news sees no short term changes to the artistic programme. A production of Saturday Night & Sunday Morning, adapted by Amanda Whittington and directed by Joyce Branagh, opens on Friday 22 February and the plans for this calendar year remain unchanged with the second phase of a major refurbishment scheduled for the summer of 2008.
The Board and the Executive at the Theatre have examined different scenarios for subsequent years (2009/10 and 2010/11) and models of working that maintain a high standard of theatrical activity for Harrogate and District, however the produced shows and the work of the outreach department will be jeopardised unless alternative sources of funding can be found.
Harrogate Theatre will continue to fight for recognition of its achievements and the level of support needed to maintain this. Investigations into the Theatre’s legal options have begun, which could include a parliamentary ombudsman scheme and for this Phil Willis, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has offered his full support and has raised an early day motion in Westminster .
Chair of Harrogate Theatre Board, Jim Clark said he was astonished and dismayed at the news and its timing, just before Christmas and its effect in less than three months time. He also said “Obviously we are grateful for the £150’000 that remains but the Arts Council have supported and regarded us as an arts development partner for rural North Yorkshire for many years. In the past ten years Harrogate Theatre has delivered not just theatre to the district and rural communities but it has worked with many schools and young peoples organisations to offer numerous participatory opportunities. In this time the Arts Council contributed over £1million above its core funding to provide a structure for ongoing work with young people in the District, this public investment will now be undermined.Harrogate Theatre will, however, continue to explore ways to offer a vibrant artistic programme of drama, dance, music and comedy.”