The Writers' Guild of Great Britain has joined in the attacks on Welsh
culture minister Alun Pugh over his contructive sacking of ACW chair
Geraint Talfan Davies, the direct funding of major arts organisations
by the Welsh Assembly Government and the attempts to abandon the "arm's-length"
principle of government funding for the arts. They have published an
open letter to Alun Pugh, which reads:
Dear Alun Pugh,
We are deeply concerned about the recent decision not to re-appoint
Geraint Talfan Davies as Chairman of the Arts Council of Wales.
The relationship between Government and the arts is a sensitive issue.
Well-established conventions which have been in place for more than
half a century should not be overthrown without the most careful thought
and the widest consultation. We are shocked that there is no evidence
of this having taken place in Wales prior to a fundamental change
in current arrangements.
Whilst deeply critical of the Arts Council of Wales in former years,
the WGGB has welcomed recent changes in the organisation, ethos and
structure of ACW – many of which have been overseen and indeed
instigated by the current Chair.
Over the last five years ACW has undergone a prolonged period of
consultation and restructuring and become – in our opinion -
a far more open and democratically accountable body, without compromising
the independence and arm’s-length principles which are so vital
to a healthy arts culture and to safeguarding artistic freedom of
expression.
As a union, we are concerned with the role of the writer, and are
therefore, particularly worried about the Assembly’s proposal
to make the two largest theatre companies in Wales as well as its
literature Academi direct clients of a Government Minister.
Theatre cannot carry out its task of challenging us all, or be seen
to do that, if it is a politician who holds the purse strings and
influences which plays will be funded or which films will be made.
The notion of Academi – an organisation representing writers
– being a direct client of a Minister is Soviet-like in its implications.
And now this decision not to renew Geraint Talfan Davies’s appointment
– in effect a sacking – comes at a time when a period of
stability and continuity is sorely needed after years of upheaval
and uncertainty amongst the arts communities in Wales. Not only that,
but Mr Davies has the confidence of the arts professionals, together
with the experience and skills needed for the job. To claim this is
a matter of “access” smacks of a smokescreen, particularly
when one examines Mr Davies’s track records at the BBC, WNO and
indeed ACW, all of which demonstrate a commitment to increasing access
and participation in the arts.
These decisions have been taken with little or no dialogue between
the Assembly and relevant arts organisations. The cultural field is
an area where all Governments need to demonstrate particular care
and sensitivity. It is not an area in which it is wise to bulldoze
proposals through against reasoned opposition. We would ask that you
think again about these proposals. Wales’s cultural record is
a splendid one. The writers of Wales and the whole of the UK plead
with you not to tarnish it.
Bernie Corbett
General Secretary - WGGB
|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z|
News
Archive A-L
News Archive M-Z
Production News Archive
