The National Audit Office, the government's financial watchdog, has attacked the New Millennium Experience Company, the operators of the Millennium Dome, for "ambitous and risky" visitor targets and "weak" financial management. It also said that NMEC "experienced diffidulty in establishing the full extent of its liabilities through to solvent linquidation and handover to a new owner," which suggests that the attraction may be trading insolvently.
The report also says that "the task of managing the project had been complicated by the complex organisational arrangements put in place from the outset, and by the failure to put in sufficiently robust financial management."
Originally visitor number were expected to be between 16 and 30 million, later revised down to a target of 12m. The target figure is now 6m.
It is rumoured that the government is giving serious consideration to the demolition of the Dome at the end of the year, as it is thought to be an electorial liability in a year in which the next general election is expected to be held. The thinking seems to be that its demolition would lead to an "out of sight, out of mind" effect on the public, as Tony Blair and his government are too closely linked to the project in the public perception.
The Arts Council of England is to launch a new website, Artsonline.com, which will offer "an Internet service for the arts and cultural industries." It will offer exhibition space and a "book circle", as well as other, as yet unspecified, services.
The site will go online on 27th November at www.artsonline.com.
The TMA and ITC are to combine to hold a major conference, Theatre 2001, from 28th February to 3rd March next year. This this cross industry conference of UK theatre practitioners will, it is said, "create a common agenda for growth, change and development by addressing the challenges & opportunties of the future." Major theatre figures are being invited to take part in the debate.
The Scottish Parliamnet has promised an extra £27m for the arts over three years, culture minister Sam Galbraith MSP has announced. £15.2m will go to the Scottish Arts Council in increased funding and £2m to the Scottish National Theatre project. Half a million will go on start-up costs for the SNT, with the rest paying for the first year of its operation.
Irish actor Pierce Brosnan is to follow in the footsteps of Sir Anthony Hopkins and become a US citizen. "Although I love Britain and Ireland," he said, "I would like to be an American. I've enjoyed my time here. It's a very, very fine country."
No inquest on Stephanie Lawrence
There will be no inquest on Stephanie Lawrence, who dies suddenly at her home last week, a coroner's report has said. A post-mortem revealed that she died of "alcoholic liver disease."