Further supplementary memorandum submitted
by Arts Council England
ARTS DEVELOPMENT AND MUSICAL THEATRE
UPDATE ON
THE BRIDEWELL
THEATRE, NOVEMBER
2003
Short-term future of the Bridewell
The Arts Council is keen to secure the short-term
future of Bridewell Theatre while further work is undertaken to
explore its medium and long-term viability.
The Bridewell has been able to negotiate a potential
lease extension for one year until 31 March 2005. There is a break
clause every quarter and notice can be given at the end of February,
May, August and November.
By hiring space to commercial producers, the
Bridewell has achieved sufficient security to commit to the first
quarter but needs to secure a further £100,000 towards overheads
for the remainder of the year. It would be preferable to settle
the full funding package now in order to free the theatre to concentrate
on the medium/longer-term and to ensure that the theatre is able
to strike an appropriate balance between commercial and developmental
work.
Sarah Weir, Executive Director of Arts Council
London has held discussions with key individuals at the Corporation
of London with a view to identifying a partnership approach to
securing the Bridewell's future. These discussions are ongoing.
The Arts Council could provide a potential £30,000,
two-year grant for artistic programming for 2004-05 to 2005-06.
The Bridewell will shortly submit an application as part of the
limited competitive tender and a final decision is due in February
2004.
Medium/Long-term future of the Bridewell
The Arts Council awarded the Bridewell £16,600
in September 2003 to explore options to secure the medium/long-term
future of the theatre. This work is to include consideration of
both capital and revenue funding needs and opportunities. There
are two elements to the project:
— costs of a consultant to explore
and develop options
— costs of a fixed-term general manager
post to free up the Executive Director's time to focus on this
issue.
The Arts Council has since been advising the
theatre on developing the detailed brief for the work and on sourcing
a suitable consultant.
We understand that:
— A general manager has been appointed
from 24 November for six months
— Consultants have been asked to tender
and are due to be interviewed in December
The Bridewell's steering group for the project
will consider an initial options paper in February and a final
report by 31 March 2004. Work will then commence to implement
the favoured options.
The Arts Council will continue to work closely
with the Bridewell over the coming months and considers that a
detailed review of the situation will be required in February
2004.
ARTS COUNCIL
ENGLAND AND
NATIONAL FOUNDATION
FOR YOUTH
MUSIC
The Arts Council delegates funds to the National
Foundation for Youth Music to enable it to operate a programme
of advocacy and funding schemes designed to develop musical opportunities
for young people in England.
In 1999, the Arts Council committed £10
million of National Lottery funds to the National Foundation for
Youth Music for three years between 1999 and 2002. That commitment
of £10 million was renewed for each of the four years ending
31 March 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Additional, grant-in-aid funding of £100,000
is provided by the Arts Council to contribute towards revenue
funding for national youth music flagship organisations. The Arts
Council is only a part contributor to the funds for these organisations—the
total fund in 2003-04 for NYMO activities was £875,000 (along
with Youth Music and DfES's Music and Dance Scheme.
Currently these organisations are: Music for
Youth, National Children's Orchestra, National Youth Brass Band
of GB, National Youth Choirs of GB, National Youth Jazz Association,
National Youth Music Theatre, National Youth Orchestra, National
Youth Wind Orchestra and SamYo.
Alan James, Head of Contemporary Music, National
Office, regularly attends NFYM Board meetings as the Arts Council
representative. Quarterly meetings are attended by Hilary Boulding,
Director, Music, National Office as the lead officer for NFYM
in respect of both the Lottery funding and the funding for Youth
Music Flagships. Also, there is an annual meeting of the Chief
Executives; Peter Hewitt and Christina Coker.
The two organisations are in regular contact
concerning major initiatives, partnerships and policies, eg Youth
Music Action Zones. The Arts Council also works closely with NFYM
in collaboration on research and data.
A major four-year review of Youth Music took
place on 13 and 14 October 2003, lead by the Director, Music.
The review was chaired by an eminent arts consultant who will
present a detailed report.
Additionally, the Arts Council set up a meeting
with National Youth Music Theatre to discuss current difficulties
and explore possible options to move forward. Now that NYMT have
agreed a Company Voluntary Arrangement with their outstanding
creditors, we are keen to continue this dialogue and to work closely
with both NYMT and their main funders, the National Foundation
of Youth Music.
November 2003
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