Arts Council of Wales fails to come up with grant for St Donats Arts Centre

The Arts Council of Wales is continuing to put St Donats Arts Centre's future in jeopardy even though the Arts Centre won its appeal against the Arts Council's decision to withdraw funding by the end of July.

Despite the independent panel deciding that the Arts Council had made a wrong decision to withdraw the Arts Centre's grant, the Arts Council did not decide to reinstate funding when it met at the end of last week.

John Clarke, Chairman of the Arts Centre said, "We are shocked that the Arts Council has not automatically restored our funding but instead has called for further reports from its officers and a review of the options. This continues the uncertainty which is highly damaging to the Arts Centre whose funding still runs out in July."

"The Arts Centre has been under threat of closure for the last three months and that threat remains a very real one whilst the Arts Council's bureaucracy grinds on."

Commenting on the announcement by the Arts Council for Wales on the future funding of St Donats Arts Centre, Vale of Glamorgan Assembly Member, Jane Hutt, said, "I regret that the Arts Council for Wales has not immediately reinstated the full funding base of St Donats Arts Centre following their successful appeal.  As Vale AM, 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".

The Chairman and General Manager are seeking urgent talks with senior officials of the Arts Council of Wales with the aim of immediately reinstating the Art Centre's grant.

For further information, contact
Janet Smith, St Donats Arts Centre
01446 799095
janetsmith@stdonats.com
www.stdonats.com