Thousands back petition supporting arts centre set to lose entire funding from county council
This article originally appeared on Culture24.
Arts centre says staff and activities will be affected by £89,000 annual funding loss
Salisbury Arts Centre is expected to lose a quarter of its grant funding© Tim Ronalds Architects, timronalds.co.ukA registered charity, the centre will lose £89,000 in local authority funding from April 1, with the council seeking to save £30 million.
Kate Buttimer, a Salisbury artist, has received more than 1,300 signatures since launching the petition a week ago. “This cut will have an impact on a huge number of the most disadvantaged individuals in the county,” she said, calling the only funding withdrawal to be made to an arts group in the country “grossly unfair”.
“The cut should be revised and spread more fairly across all arts organisations, or reversed completely.”
Kate Barker, the Chair of the centre, said organisers were “very grateful” for the investment the council had previously made in the venue, which has rented its home – formerly an early 13th century church – at a peppercorn rate since opening in 2005.
“The work we have achieved with children and young people and in some of Wiltshire’s most deprived communities simply wouldn’t have been possible without that support,” she pointed out.
“The news obviously comes as a huge blow, particularly so close to the start of the financial year.
“We have already made significant cost efficiencies in the light of the current financial climate, so a loss of income on this scale will inevitably impact staff and the level of activity we’re able to provide.”
Gemma Okell, the Director of the centre, said it had been responsible for more than 1,600 local events last year.
“Despite this very sad news, we remain absolutely committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to everyone, especially young people, people with disabilities and those who do not see themselves as natural arts attenders,” she insisted.
“We are passionate about continuing to offer creative opportunities and making a tangible difference to individuals and the communities they live in.”
Among the signatories, David Oakes, a former student in the town, said his time there “laid the way for a career in the arts.”
“The Arts Centre is in part responsible for that,” he added.
“I still come back to Salisbury and frequent the centre at least a couple of times each year. If anything, their funding should be increased.”
“Surely access to the arts is important to all those with limited means,” wrote Biddy Walker.
“To cut funding completely is unfair.”
Clare Ereira called the decision “lazy” and “irresponsible”.
“I love what the Arts Centre does,” she said.
“It is one of the reasons we moved to Salisbury. It is appalling that a single venue should have to bear the full brunt of funding cuts.”
The centre was run by volunteers during the early 1990s, when a funding crisis caused residents to take to the streets in a campaign to save it.
A £4.2 million redevelopment in 2003 was largely funded by the council, English Heritage and Arts Council South West.
- You can visit the petition online or support Salisbury Arts Centre.
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