Welsh culture minister Alun Pugh has now come under attack from the
Welsh Music Guild for his "sacking" of ACW chair Geraint Talfan
Davies and direct funding by the Assembly of six of Wales' leading arts
organisations.
In a letter to Mr Pugh, signed by chairman Dr Terry James, vice chairman
John Lewis, and secretary Christopher Painter, the Guild said:
While Welsh Music Guild welcomes the decision of the National Assembly
to institute a review of the future role of the Arts Council of Wales
and its relationship with the Welsh Assembly Government, we wish to
express, in the strongest terms, our dismay and disapproval of the
perfunctory de facto dismissal of its chair, Mr Geraint Talfan
Davies.
No one would deny that the Arts Council of Wales, in common with
all organisations, should be subject to periodic review and refinement
of both its strategy and structures. However, this process should
be by a process of consultation (on as wide a basis as possible),
debate and reflection and not subject to the diktat of individual
politicians who may or may not have their own agenda.
Indeed, a cynic might conclude that it is more than mere coincidence
that having failed to abolish the Arts Council of Wales (because of
an elementary lack of understanding of its constitution), the Welsh
Assembly Government is now seeking to destabilise it by cutting off
its head.
The Arts Council of Wales has, in Geraint Talfan Davies, a chair
of the utmost ability and experience whose probity is beyond question
and who, in our opinion, is the ideal person to oversee the organisation
through the next phase of its development. Indeed, it is virtually
impossible to suggest anyone more suitable to fill this position at
such a crucial time.
Furthermore, the Welsh Assembly Government must, above all others,
be aware of the damage that can be done by parachuting in a leader
against the wishes of the majority.
The Welsh Music Guild, in common with all other arts organisations,
wholeheartedly supports the policy of widening access to the arts,
but would argue tha,t to avoid the accusation that the arts in Wales
are being 'Stalinised', then it is of paramount importance to retain
both the arm's length principle with respect to funding and full independence
as to the development and application of a successful strategy for
the arts.
We would urge you to reconsider your position on this matter and
to reappoint Mr Davies so that the process of review can take place
in an unsoured atmosphere and with the full cooperation of the arts
community within Wales.
Alun Pugh is a vice-president of the Guild.
