Cut-back threat to North cultural renaissance

Jul 3 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

GOVERNMENT culture bosses have ordered a regional arts champion to close down as part of a restructuring process which critics claim could “rob the region of its individual voice”.

Last night the Government was urged not to undo a decade’s worth of cultural renaissance in Tyneside, one of the few areas in which Labour has previously been roundly praised for their support of the North East.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sports wants to streamline regional services and is asking four arts groups to combine their efforts and form a “plan of action for culture and sports in the region”.

But of the organisations asked to form this regional arts focus, most are already facing difficulties in retaining a significant regional presence.

Sports England yesterday called staff from the three Northern regions to a meeting in Leeds where “structural changes” were announced, with some job losses expected.

The Museums, Libraries and Archives group has already admitted it is pulling out of the region and will be basing staff in Birmingham.

And the Arts Council nationally is still deciding what, if any, staffing changes to make following Government demands of budget cuts worth 15% of the agency’s administration costs.

Many of these changes will be felt behind the scenes, although pressures from the Olympics have already seen some reduction in arts grants funding.

As these three groups and English Heritage prepare to produce combined priorities with less staff, one organisation is already preparing to close its doors.

Culture North East is one of the regional culture consortiums set for the axe.

Chairwoman Olivia Grant said she had a “very clear” conversation with culture minister Margaret Hodge this week in which she “fully expressed the reservations we have. The Minister has the right to make this decision but it is fundamentally wrong”.

Ms Grant added: “The organisations which she is now expecting to take over this work are right now losing staff and facing up to restructuring which will make them more national and less regional.

“To save a little bit of money they have deprived the region of this dedicated behind-the-scenes service.”

Newcastle Council deputy leader David Faulkner, a board member on Culture North East, said: “This is in my opinion a very bad move. All the work done in the region with the help of the then Secretary of State Chris Smith now faces being unpicked as the Government moves back towards centralisation.”

Gateshead East and Washington West MP Sharon Hodgson said: “We have made major strides forward for culture in the region over the last decade. It is important to ensure that we do not drop the baton now that the purse strings are a little tighter.”

A spokesman for Sports England said it would be carrying out a consultation on staffing levels.

The Minister has the right to make this decision but it is fundamentally wrong