CAUSE FOR CONCERN - ARTS COUNCIL OF WALES RESTRUCTURING

Members of Wales' leading galleries and visual arts organisations met in Cardiff on Wednesday 28 June amid widespread concern over proposals to re-structure the Arts Council of Wales and resignations by key members of ACW's Visual Arts team. Many of Wales' artists also have spoken out against the planned cuts in artform expertise.

The Visual Arts Group Wales (VAGW) fears that the proposals - currently secret - will severely undermine the nation's ability to producing world-class art and craft. A recently-issued 'Progress Report on the Arts Council of Wales Restructuring' by ACW's Chair Sybil Crouch only strengthened VAGW members' existing fears.

Anger was expressed over the conspicuous lack of consultation over the sweeping changes to recommendations made by consultant Professor Anthony Everitt, commissioned by the Arts Council of Wales itself to conduct the organisation's restructuring review. Based on the views and experience of interested parties from across the arts and culture in Wales, Professor Everitt recommended that experts in particular artforms such as drama, music and the visual arts should have a key senior management role within ACW. These proposals have apparently been dropped without further consultation, prompting alarm among the arts community at the risk of a 'dumbing down' process which will leave ACW without the knowledge and clout to argue for Wales' artists and arts organisations at the highest levels.