St Donats faces uncertain future

May 1 2008 by Gareth Evans, Glamorgan Gazette

THE future of St Donats Arts Centre remains in doubt, despite celebrity support.

Singer Georgie Fame, who performed at the venue a week and a half ago, was among those backing the centre after the Arts Council for Wales announced it was cutting its grant after July. Staff and patrons appealed against the decision and won the backing by of an independent panel.

But despite support from all over the world, the Arts Council decided against reinstating the £45,379 funding when it met last week. Further reports and a review of options have instead been requested.

John Clarke, chairman of the centre, said: “We are shocked the Arts Council has not automatically restored our funding. This continues the uncertainty, which is highly damaging to the arts centre, whose funding still runs out in July.

“The centre has been under threat of closure for the past three months and that threat remains a very real one while the Arts Council’s bureaucracy grinds on.”

St Donats plays host to an arts centre and cinema which attracts more than 53,000 visitors a year.

With the Vale of Glamorgan Council, the Arts Council for Wales has funded the centre for more than 20 years to provide an annual programme of events and services.

Adding her weight to the campaign, Jane Hutt AM said: “I regret that the Arts Council has not immediately reinstated the full funding base of St Donats Arts Centre following their successful appeal.

“However, I am pressing for what I hope will be fruitful discussions about the future funding of the centre and that appropriate funding sources will be identified.”