Today’s the Day
Today is the last day for those organisations affected by the ACE cuts to submit their appeals. From now on, it’s up to Arts Council.
Or is it? We’ve reached a situation where both sides are so entrenched that it seems unlikely that anyone will budge. OK, ACE may make a few concessions - the Bush, for example - but for it to do anything else than to inker with its plans would be to admit it is wrong and there is nothing bureaucrats hate more than admitting to error.
Some organisations have already accepted the situation - they’re the ones we haven’t heard from - but most are firm in the opposition and some will go ahead with plans for a legal challenge. But if that happens ACE has already said that, when it wins as it is sure it will, it will claim costs, thus making the organisation which it has already deprived of funds pay out more. Whilst that is undoubtedly legally correct, it would be another PR own goal.
The relationship between ACE and its clients, especially in the theatre world, has never been worse, and even though there are undoubtedly some of its decisions which are perfectly justified, nothing short of stopping the cuts and going through a much more transparent process will restore confidence. But that would be to admit it was wrong, and that seems highly unlikely, to say the least.
Time for adjudication! Time, in fact, for culture secretary James Purnell to step in and sort out the mess. For him not to do so would be a gross dereliction of duty. He is responsible for the health of the cultural sector and the paymaster of ACE. He has a duty to both sides in the dispute and it is also incumbent upon him, as a minister of the crown, to ensure that the workings of government and of government-funded quangos are transparent and fair. If he fails to intervene, he will lose all credibility in the eyes of the arts world, and with an Arts Council and a minister lacking the respect and trust of the sector, the arts in England will be in a very parlous state indeed.
Over to you, minister!