In this, as in every, issue of Venue we report news of regional events that showcase the rich seam of creative talent that thrives here in East Anglia and neighbouring counties, as well as some of the London shows that bring visitors to the capital from across the world. All that good news, however, comes as the cuts to arts funding brought in last year start to bite, and as even further cuts are announced. Not only is Arts Council funding to be reduced by a further £11.6m before 2015, but there will also be reductions in local authority funding, to the tune of some 8.7% for 2013–14 for the wealthiest councils. Just how these new cuts will be implemented across the region is still to be decided, but there can be little doubt that the arts will be in the firing line. In fact, the Local Government Association has warned that unless central government policy changes, local funding for arts in England and Wales will have practically disappeared by 2020. The recent 2012 survey on local authority arts spending by Arts Development UK (representing local authority arts officers nationwide) reveals that 15% of local authorities in England and Wales have lost their arts services since 2000, and 7% of those surveyed fear closure of services in 2013. So much for some of
the statistics (and there are many) on the subject.

    Putting it into a reality context, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, taking the issue up in the House of Lords recently, referred to the ‘unimaginable strain’ that arts funding is under, giving as an example the closure of some university music departments, ‘as seen at the University of East Anglia’. He recommended the government ‘urgently consider a clear formula for a public-private partnership that seeks to ensure a more solid and mutually funded foundation for the industry.’ Lord Webber also highlighted and praised private and philanthropic giving to the arts, an area that the government is

    In our own region, arts venues and practitioners are already some way down the road of seeking out and implementing funding initiatives. In this issue we report St Barnabas Press’s invitation to patrons of the arts to invest in, and become part of the success of, its 20th Anniversary Print Portfolio; the Mercury Theatre in Colchester has an enterprising marketing initiative offering theatre-goers a whole year of theatre for only £12 a show; and award-winning gallery Smiths Row, in Bury St Edmunds, is among many now securing local sponsorship for events such as its annual Suffolk Showcase. We also have world-class theatres in the region with remarkable success stories resulting from innovative public/private collaborations – for example the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds which we featured in our Winter issue; and the St George’s Theatre in Great Yarmouth, recently restored from dereliction to a superb, economically successful working theatre again, the credit going to councillors, council officers, creatives and venue managers working hand-in-hand with the Arts Council.

    World-class artists, designers, craftspeople and performers make this a dynamic place in which to live, work and do business. Venue is dedicated to providing a showcase for their work, as well as to being a catalyst to enable the cooperation and collaboration which will be needed to ensure that
the arts can continue to make the vital contribution they undoubtedly do to our quality of life, and the wellbeing and economic health of our communities.

 

Fran Goss   Editor

features@venuemagazine.co.uk