Arts boss is going with few regrets

Oct 29 2007 By David Whetstone, The Journal

MANY times since the war it has been easy for those in government to characterise arts leaders as whingers.

Those in the arts, of course, have always been ready to retort that government never understands how a little can go a long way in fostering creativity.

For years, funding has been a bone of contention.

But Peter Hewitt will step down early next year, after 10 years as chief executive of the Arts Council, in an optimistic frame of mind.

This is likely to come across tomorrow when he gives a lecture at Newcastle University called From the Filleting Machine to the Sultan’s Elephant. What next for the Arts?

He will reflect on a thorny issue, the restructuring which saw Northern Arts disappear and Arts Council England, North East appear in its place as part of a national organisation.

There was sentiment attached to the Northern Arts name, just as there is to Northern Rock.

Peter, who ran Northern Arts from 1992-7, says: “It was difficult and it was an unpopular decision in some quarters. But I think it was the right decision to make. I believe the region has done better and will do better in the future through being part of something bigger.

“I think generally the arts have more of a profile and are better positioned and regarded by government because we can talk as one. We can talk about our regional strengths but we can also talk about the whole country.”

Peter recalled the recent comprehensive spending review when the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, made specific reference to the arts, talking about their importance in relation to international development, major transport developments and social housing.

“He went on the Today programme the day after the announcement and was asked what were the positive stories to come out of it. He cited the arts as one of them and that’s good. I do think the fact we’ve come together as a one organisation means people can talk about the arts in a more coherent way.”

He confesses that before the spending review, there had been deepening gloom.

“For a long time I was very greatly concerned that we were being asked to plan for a much worst scenario. A 5% cut in budget would have meant taking out a whole load of organisations.

“We would have had to review our funding of some of the biggest organisations and dozens of medium and small-scale companies would have been threatened. That would have been very serious.

“Then I became a bit more optimistic, but to have got above inflation was a real surprise. It really was a much better settlement than I’d expected.”

Not that there’s room for complacency. Peter says the positive settlement doesn’t mean everyone is going to be happy. “There will still be belt tightening to some extent because there are always difficult decisions. There will still be some organisations that lose their funding and others that get an increase.

“If we are not making choices, what are we here for? Things do change and organisations come and go. They have their good times and their less good times and we have to be responsive to that.”

An Arts Council chief executive, clearly, is never going to be universally liked. But Peter has no regrets.

“I had a really good time in the North-East and loved my time at Northern Arts, and I’ve had a really good time at the Arts Council as well. There have been lots of enjoyable things but it’s also been quite tough. I’m 55 and I’m not retiring but I am looking forward now to what comes next.”

Born on Teesside – hence his passion for Middlesbrough FC, for which he holds a season ticket – he had a short spell at Tees Health Authority after leaving Northern Arts. But most of his career – beginning when he became arts officer in North Tyneside in 1977 – reflects a lifelong interest in the arts.

The title of his lecture reflects this, The Filleting Machine being a memorable play by the late Tom Hadaway and The Sultan’s Elephant a spectacular performance on the streets of London.

Tomorrow he will dwell, inevitably, on the changes we have seen in the North-East – on the transformation of the quaysides and the emergence of world class arts venues. And he will exude optimism.

So what about the London Olympics?

“I think we have to make sure they are a good thing. It was disappointing that the Government pinched money from the Arts Council to give to the Olympics but on the other hand they’ve given money back.

“I think the Olympics are a big challenge. Surely we can find a way of turning them to our advantage? We’ll have every country in the world here and we will have to make sure the arts are visible. I don’t think there’s any point in being negative.”

In a coup for Teesside, another native will take over from Peter next year. Alan Davey, currently at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, was born in Stockton.

Peter Hewitt’s public lecture, From the Filleting Machine to the Sultan’s Elephant, is at 5.30pm tomorrow in the Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building, Newcastle University (opposite Haymarket Metro Station). Admission free.