Theatre fights £40,000 funding cut (From Witney Gazette)

Theatre fights £40,000 funding cut

6:37am Friday 11th January 2008 in Witney By David Horne

AN Oxfordshire theatre stands to lose £40,000 of funding in what has been described as a "bloodbath" of cuts by the Arts Council.

The Theatre, in Chipping Norton, was only informed of the proposed cut to its grant days before Christmas. It has sent off an appeal ahead of next Tuesday's deadline.

The management board is perplexed by the loss of its annual grant, because in August it was given £60,000 by thecouncil to bolster its development.

Director Caroline Sharman said: "We are not going to go under, but it will limit our innovative growth in all the activities we have."

It is one of almost 200 organisations across the country, many in rural areas, which have been informed of drastic cuts from next April - branded a "bloodbath" by one national newspaper.

Other Oxfordshire arts groups threatened with loss of grants are Anjali, a Banbury-based dance company for people with learning difficulties, and Animation Station, also in Banbury, which gives young people the chance to work in a professional animation studio.

The Arts Council said it was giving more priority to inner cities and initiatives with more national impact.

Ms Sharman said: "In the past four years we have met the Arts Council's plea for bringing more drama to more people - not just in the theatre but in the community, villages and schools.

"We bring everything from opera and innovative touring drama to local community plays and support for the area's music festivals."

Witney MP and Conservative Party leader David Cameron has written to the Arts Council to plead for funding for The Theatre to continue.

And Barry Norton, leader of West Oxfordshire District Council - which gives The Theatre £30,000 a year - said it would be writing in protest.

Mr Norton said: "This is yet another example of rural facilities being put at risk. The Theatre has a wide rural catchment area and does a marvellous job."

Other well-known grassroots theatres in Oxfordshire are escaping the axe. Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company expects to receive its annual grant of £188,000.

OTTC spokesman Louise Wiggins said: "We have a strong connection with The Theatre at Chipping Norton and it is horrible for them to lose out."

The Pegasus Theatre, in Oxford, which has postponed its £6.3m rebuilding for a year to continue fundraising, will receive its grant of £231,000. Head of marketing Gill Jaggers said the money was vital for art to thrive in the community.

Chloe Barker, spokesman for the Arts Council South East region, said: "We recognise that The Theatre offers a varied, popular programme.

"However, as the national development agency for the arts we cannot fund the same organisations year after year at the same levels."

• What was then known as the Little Theatre in Chipping Norton was founded in 1975 in a converted Salvation Army Citadel building by two actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Last year, it staged 170 live events, including the pantomime Rapunzel, which closes tomorrow, as well as more than 200 film screenings, and drew a total audience of 51,000.

Its income in the 2006-7 financial year was £800,000. About £155,000 of that came from sponsorship, Theatre Friends, private and trust donations.

Public grants, including the Arts Council and local councils, amounted to £95,000.