Theatres lose out to the ruddy Olympics!

[Sofie Mason]

Don't groan but I don't think we should just stand idly by as the money drains away from our theatres! Two weeks ago Tony Blair stood up in the Tate Modern and promised there would be no “boom or bust” in arts funding. Lest we forget, Arts Council spending has risen from £183m in 1997 to £412m in 2006/7 which is a very good thing and, as a result, theatre throughout the country has become more ambitious and more prolific, seat prices have gone down and attendance has gone up. Then just one week ago Tessa Jowell announced the ‘bust’ that Blair promised would not happen. Arts organisations will now lose at least £137m that will be redirected to support the 2012 Olympics. ACE chief executive Peter Hewitt warned that the cuts would be felt across the whole of England and disproportionately by smaller arts organisations” and the Editor of The Stage confirmed that “the scale of the plundering which has taken place has been of such severity that it very likely will erase whatever benefits Labour can point to by way of a legacy for the arts”. Is anyone doing anything? Is there anything we can do as punters and supporters of theatre???
I've been on many a march and many a picket line and handed in many a petition as a survivor of the 80's but I'm not sure what we can do about this........All suggestions welcome!

[Marcus Markou]

You are absolutely right about the manner in which these cuts are being made - by the back door with as little fuss as possible. It's as if the arts communities don't really deserve the money in the first place and frankly, it's not as important as funding the Olympics... "so hush now".

This actually says a great deal about this country's relationship to the arts, as much as anything else. The Olympics simply puts it under the microscope.

In France, Germany or Greece, you are respected if you are an artist - a writer, actor or painter. In Britain, we generally sneer at our artists. We always have done.

When it comes to funing the arts, culturally speaking, it's never going to be a priority within the British consciousness. We are a nation of self haters - when it comes to the arts. And this permeates through the art organisations and the way that artists treat each other. It permeates through the media and how the media treats artists. We refer to teen pop bands as 'artists' but do we ever refer to actors or writers as 'artists'? No. It's as if we are undeserving of the title 'artist'. Yet Britney Spears or Justin Timberlake are referred to as 'artists' or 'recording artists'. We don't even refer to Ricky Gervais as an artist - but he is. And already the cynic hacks are out to bring him down. In my eyes, he is an untouchable.

How many ordinary British people know who Harold Pinter is? I had this row with my girlfriend about 7 years ago. 'Everyone knows who Harold Pinter is," I declared.

'No Marcus... they don't. Trust me,' she replied.

'Okay, okay... everyone who is University educated knows who Harold Pinter is,' I insisted.

'No, they don't!'

So I emailed everyone on my email list with the simple question... "Do you know who Harold Pinter is?"

Amazingly, lots of people didn't! I was wrong. Not everyone knew who Harold Pinter was. And not many people cared.

There is no mass support for the arts in Britain because it doesn't exist in the mass consciousness of the British people. When it comes to the arts, we are a nation of slaters and cynics because I'm not sure that we understand how important art is to us. We raise an eyebrow. We don't really have that debate, and consequently it's an uphill struggle.

For those of us who do know who Harold Pinter is, some of us still take a cynical approach to him... "His latest plays are shit... His anti-war poems are embarrassing etc etc."

It wouldn't happen in France. He would have earned his 'untouchable artist' status. And well deserved too.

Not in the UK... NO ONE is untouchable and artists are fair game. They are to be hunted like foxes and hares - especially the successful ones.

And this is why these cuts will happen and why no one will worry about it outside the arts communities. That is why all the complaining in the world will get you a raised eyebrow and a polite shrug of the shoulders.

I am sure it would be a different story in another country because there is a greater respect for the arts communities. Perhaps because there is a greater understanding of the importance of art to a nation's consciousness and to the improvement of humanity.

What are you saying Marcus? Sounds a little pretentious.

The truth is, that my above statement would probably make it into Private Eye's Pseuds Corner. I don't think Greece or Germany has the equivalent of Pseuds Corner. It's a very British thing.

The only thing we can do is build creative parterships. I know it's a hard thing for us to do... It's not a natural thing for us to do because we are conditioned to survive in a very hostile environment - whether actors, writers, artists, musicians, sculptors, designers etc.

We have to find more ways to collaborate and create. What else can we do? That is our salvation.

[Paul Savident]

I received an email yesterday from Arts Professional asking to contribute to a debate and vote on the Arts Council England's website (but just go to www.artsdebate.com) re exactly these issues above. As the great Ray Jones says, it is not a matter of one aspect losing out to another (ie the Arts losing funding for the Olympics) but rather if both are valid then both should be assisted.
At www.artsdebate.com there are many issues which need our industry's community responding to - apart from the vote in the top right hand corner - such as:
What do you value about the arts? [145:comments]
What principles should guide public funding of the arts today? [114:comments]
What are the responsibilities of a publicly funded arts organisation? [49:comments]
When should an artist receive public money? [89:comments]
Should members of the public be involved in arts funding decisions? [65:comments]
PLEASE take up the issues at www.artsdebate.com - it is the first time Arts Council England has asked for professional and public feedback so - as we are building a great community at BritishTheatre.com - let's use our voices. If adding to any of the forums on the ACE website I would also suggest adding the webaddress of BritishTheatre.com in your reply - we have a voice!

[Ray Jones]

Hi Paul. Its the "great" Ray Jones here.
Thanks for the accolade (you must let me know what I have done to deserve it)
I have just spent an hour looking through artsdebate.com
Another great site
I have not posted there yet but will certainly mention BritishTheatre.com if / when I do
If you don't know Sophie - the lady who got this ball rolling on this site you should get to know her
A huge supporter of Fringe Theatre via her web site offwestend.com
Great social circle too - and not just by e mail
I am a devotee
Back on The Olympics versus The Arts: I sit as a Non Executive Director of Visit London - as does Paul James of SOLT
I can assure you that we will make our voices heard at the next Board Meeting and ensure that Arts and Culture are truly embeded into the Tourism agenda for the games

[Sofie Mason]

Marcus, don't give up! I bumped into David Jubb from BAC on Friday and he told me that SHUNT had had a meeting and that various bodies were getting together to meet Peter Hewitt. They want to put the arguments reasonably before people like me start taking to the streets and stopping the traffic! So let's support them and see what happens - I think we all agree that the cuts are a very bad thing and, irrespective of the traditional British attitude to the arts, the best we can do now is find out what action is being taken and get stuck in! My only contact with the front line is David Jubb - if anyone knows of any other meetings or leading participants, please let us all know! Sx

[Zoe Thomas]

I agree indeed, and remember Tony's "promises" that arts funding would not be reduced. I am a member of various small companies that are just starting out, including Inky Fingers, headed by two incrediby talented young writers. They have the opportunity to develop their career massively with a slot at the Royal Exchange studio theatre in Manchester. However, this will be impossible for them if they cannot get Arts Council funding. They've both worked incredibly hard to get this far, funding previous productions off their own backs and those of the company. It would be awful to see them fail at this stage because they can';t get enough money together.
The olympics is ridiculous, and already costing people in the area more in council tax as they struggle to fund the ever increasing budget. I can't see any long term benefits of this, while I can see long term benefits in enabling tyoung entrepreneurs to make a good start after lots of hard work.