Letter: Theatre Grants Are Not Entitlements

Published on: 31 Jan, 2022
Updated on: 31 Jan, 2022

The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

From Dave Middleton

In response to: Theatre Funding Cuts ‘Demoralising’ and ‘Irresponsible’

Frankly, I am truly shocked to learn that sums in excess of three hundred thousand pounds of council money have been gifted to the Yvonne Arnaud in past years, together with some six-hundred thousand pounds of proposed funding to be gifted over the coming three years.

I would be interested to know just how much the borough council has gifted that theatre over the past twelve years of austerity, while cuts have been made to public services, wages have fallen, taxes have risen and a good number of the population have been struggling to make ends meet.

I would assume from the recently published figures the total for the past twelve years must run into millions of pounds.

Yes grant money, in times of affluence, if it is acceptable to provide some support to the arts, but surely not during times when public services and provisions are being cut.

Finally, perhaps the theatre’s CEO Joanna Read should remember, that the grants gifted to the theatre by the council are just that, a gift, not an entitlement.

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