Greenwich Dance’s Talking Moves podcast is to return with a one-off special, "Arts Funding in Crisis", with Nicholas Hytner and Tarek Iskander, released on Friday 28 July 2023 on its Digital Stage.
Fronted by CEO and Creative Director of Greenwich Dance, Melanie Precious, this one-off episode explores the current funding climate for professional and community arts in the UK, following Precious’s response to Hytner’s proposal for a new way to fund the sector.
Greenwich Dance has not received any project funding from Arts Council England since 2019 and its longstanding funding from the Royal Borough of Greenwich was recently not renewed.
A Crowdfunder campaign has ensured its dance classes can continue for the year, while support from the National Lottery Community Fund, Royal Greenwich Festivals and Peabody allowed its Summer in the Park to go ahead this summer.
Precious said, “things are really tough for Greenwich Dance at the moment. Being unable to access funds from Arts Council England, seemingly because of the levelling up agenda, and having lost our longstanding project funding from the local council, we are facing a huge struggle.
"I am so proud of our work that supports communities of residents, artists and young people across South East London. The last thing we want in our 30th year is to see three decades of work disappear. While we explore other models of funding to support our long-term plans, we are calling on those in a position to support us to become Art Angels, to invest in our work and allow us to continue for years to come and not become another casualty in our sector.”