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The London Bubble Theatre Company 100% cut in Arts Council funding confirmed. London Bubble news page |
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Campaign in Vain Ken Livingstone has declared his support, a Prime Ministers Question has been tabled, lots of press coverage and broadcast interest, 900 friends on face book, 230+ messages of support on the website and an open letter (reproduced below) form part of the appeal by The London Bubble Theatre Company against a 100% cut in ACE funding. We, the undersigned, urge the Arts Council to assess more carefully the work of London Bubble Theatre Company - including its long-term educational work, its large-scale educational projects (such as It Can Happen Here, itself a legacy of the Sultan's Elephant), its training and mentoring work (the first Arts Award in London) and its participatory groups and projects (such as the Bermondsey Carnival) as well as its professional productions - before it decides whether or not to discontinue or reduce funding. We urge the Arts Council to take account of the experiences, observations and views of academics, head-teachers, teachers, other professionals, local partners, students, participants, audiences and peers who have been partners in, or otherwise involved in, the company's recent work. We urge the Arts Council, when comparing London Bubble's work with other companies, to compare like with like - i.e. community-centred companies that also promote the full range of theatre activities (professional, participatory, educational, training and mentoring) including the company's involvement of young people and intergenerational work. Finally, we urge the Arts Council to consider the reach of the company - the number of local partnerships, the diversity of our audiences and participants and the legacy of London Bubble (as shown, for instance, by the development of promenade and forum theatres, and the initial nurturing of Cardboard Citizens), and, potentially the most important, the development of The Peckham Heart – a new building that will form the centre of arts participation in South London and beyond. London Bubble and many other arts companies will learn their fiscal fates on Friday 1st February 2008. |
