[highaltitudefilms]

not sure if this subject has appeared on this site before but

I have been shocked to find out that independent theatre company thewrestlingschool for the first time in its history of 812 performances of 23 productions to over 100,000 people in twelve countries has not been given a grant for a show due to the lottery fund for the arts being used to fund the olympics , resulting in the arts being sidelined , this is I am sure just the tip of the iceberg with many more cuts out there and to come..
wondering what others think of this,
if you feel strongly then please sign the petition at

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/lotteryolympics

thankyou

[musicals fan]

This subject has been mentioned before on the site. There was some speculation in the media that ENO would receive little or no subsidy to divert funds to the Olympics.

On the specific case you mention, have you been given or heard of this explanation being given officially? I suspect that the authorities would deny it if asked.

[Ian]

This subject has been mentioned before on the site. There was some speculation in the media that ENO would receive little or no subsidy to divert funds to the Olympics.

On the specific case you mention, have you been given or heard of this explanation being given officially? I suspect that the authorities would deny it if asked.

They will not, of course, admit that funding to the arts will be diverted to the Olympics, but that is most definitely the case. The claim that the Olympics includes, or requires, arts funding is also a distortion of the truth. The "arts" part of the Olympics relates solely to the opening and closing ceremonies. Museums, Galleries and Theatres will be starved of funds for the next decade.

[Matthew Winn]

I'm not pleased that the Olympics will be coming to London, and it's not just the arts that are suffering. Money is being drained out of all manner of subsidised projects. And for what? One fortnight of sports, during which we'll get to show the world our mastery of losing with style.

The Olympics are like the Eurovision Song Contest: it's great to take part, but if you've any sense you let some other fool take on the hassle of organising it.

[M George]

I'm furious about the Olympics. It's not just arts money being diverted. All sorts of projects that required funding up in the north west have had their potential money diverted into the olympics. It takes the piss.

[teaboy]

The Olympics will be fantastic. One of the most deprived area of the country will finally get some investment. Jobs will be created, transport improved. There will finally be some world-class sporting facilities in our capital city. Who knows, you might see the best EVER competitors achive their best EVER performance right in front of you - some of it for for free!

It will also bring a massive amount of people to our great city who might even go to a theatre or two.

You might even enjoy it.

[Haz]

Jobs will be created

And then what'll happen to them? They'll all be back in the dole queue the morning after the closing ceremony.

I have no issue with the Olympics per se. I have an issue with the impact the Olympics is having on everything else.

[David]

The Olympics will be fantastic. One of the most deprived area of the country will finally get some investment. Jobs will be created, transport improved. There will finally be some world-class sporting facilities in our capital city. Who knows, you might see the best EVER competitors achieve their best EVER performance right in front of you - some of it for for free!

It will also bring a massive amount of people to our great city who might even go to a theatre or two.

You might even enjoy it.

I'll enjoy it about as much as I will enjoy the Beijing Olympics, as I enjoyed the Athens and Sydney Olympics, and as I enjoy every other Olympics. Because, a. I don't enjoy watching sport, and b. I, like the majority of the rest of the country, don't live in London. The only thing I'll notice is a lot of TV that I have no interest in watching, and the effects that the lack of funding will have on the arts (and other things).

I don't think the commercial theatres in the West End, which are those that will receive some of the 'massive amount of people' are those that need the help- but regional theatre is what is most at risk (the RSC and NT will also survive, since they're so high profile); the effects are already beginning to be seen.

I contemplated going through your post adding "I don't care" and "nope", but decided it would be childish.

I'm all for the Olympics, just not the detrimental effect that it brings to theatres, art galleries, museums, various other projects. Is it too late to send it to Paris?

And the logo is crap.

[hitster]

A lot of the Olympic funding should come from PFI's etc, most of the stadiums for other sports are there, the Urban Regeneration should be self funding. The money being channelled to the elite athletes should come from Sports budgets. I agree that you focus on the people who will be the elite athletes in 2012 and maybe overlook good athletes now but ones who will never be world beaters. The sad thing is that the smaller project will suffer as the big theatres will always get some money as it would create bad press if say the NT, the National Gallery, ENO etc suddenly had their budgets cut.