Theatre group Cloud Nine left out in cold

May 12 2010 by David Whetstone, The Journal

THE latest – slimmed down – newsletter from Cloud Nine theatre company has a blunt headline: “Nowt!”

In a front page editorial, Cloud Nine founder Peter Mortimer explains that the company’s application to Arts Council England for funding for the coming year has been rebuffed.

It states that an initial bid for just over £28,000 had been followed by a second, smaller bid for “a Plan B programme of work” in recognition of the recession and “the spiralling Olympics budget”.

Both, however, had been knocked back, leaving the Cullercoats-based company with no Arts Council backing for the first time in its 13-year history and meaning plans for three new plays are now on hold.

The goal for all ambitious arts organisations is to become one of the Arts Council’s regularly funded organisations, thereby securing investment over a period of years.

There are currently 70 of these in the North East.

Others can apply to the Arts Council’s Grants for the Arts scheme which is funded by the National Lottery and offers a sum of money for a set period or project.

In his editorial Peter Mortimer describes this as “a hazardous gamble”. He says sometimes Cloud Nine were lucky and got the full grant, other times it was reduced. “Now it has been refused altogether.”