THE threat to arts in the North East has been raised in Parliament, with a warning that the Government is risking the region’s cultural renaissance.
Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell has called on ministers to look again at support for theatre groups as funding cuts threaten to undermine the city’s cultural achievements over the last 10 years.
Millions of pounds have been wiped off funding for North East arts organisations as part of a 30% cuts to Arts Council budgets and further blows passed on the by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Ms McKinnell says this and funding cuts at Newcastle Council will see touring companies left with no choice but to miss out Newcastle, and jobs likely to go across Tyneside.
She added: “While the recent news that the Theatre Royal has received lottery funding is to be welcomed, it is disappointing that the Lib Dem council’s budget cuts will impact its work.
“This highly-regarded venue is a major receiving house which has hosted the Royal Shakespeare Company and Opera North to provide the people of Newcastle with the best in classical theatre and opera, as well as major musicals.
“The Journal Tyne Theatre offers a varied programme with a musical emphasis, while Newcastle-based theatre touring company Open Clasp offers a unique dramatic insight into issues such as domestic violence.
“And both of these organisations will also be affected by the council’s cuts.
“We know local communities can derive enormous benefits from spending on the arts and culture.
“Indeed, the culture-led regeneration that has taken place in the Newcastle Gateshead area over the last decade or so is evident for all to see.”
Ms McKinell’s early day motion calling for a cuts rethink has already been signed by several MPs, including Gateshead’s Ian Mearns and North Tyneside’s Mary Glindon.
It follows news this week that the Royal Shakespeare Company will not be visiting Newcastle in the autumn due to funding cuts.
Last night Newcastle Council leader David Faulkner defended the way his authority has handled arts funding.
He has been a strong supporter of regional arts and spoken out against previous cuts by the Labour government.
He said: “I’m very disappointed that a local MP is singling out Newcastle like this because we are and will remain one off the largest funders of arts and cultural activities in the region.
“The reductions here are less than the overall average across the councils, and we remain committed to our regularly funded organisations, such as Dance City, and we will remain the largest funder of the likes of the Discovery Museum through the Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums Association.
“We find at least £6m in revenue each year and most of that will remain. But it would be wrong for the arts to be excluded from some cuts if it meant others suffer more.”
