Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Central Council for Amateur Theatre
The Central Council for Amateur Theatre (CCAT)
is the umbrella body in which all of the national organisations
representing various sectors of amateur theatre meet to discuss
common aims and strategies for the promotion of amateur theatre
throughout the UK.
CCAT wishes to bring to the attention of the
Committee a number of issues relating to the provision of public
support for amateur theatre in Great Britain, including:
— Recognition of the scale of amateur
theatre and its contribution to the cultural economy. 470,000
people (30% of whom are under 21) actively participate in local
amateur theatre groups, performing at venues ranging from leading
professional theatres to village halls, supplemented by millions
of young people at schools, colleges, universities and youth theatre
groups. These young people are the performing talent of the future.
The total annual box office income of amateur theatre is £40
million, the total number of performances per year is 30,000 and
the total number of people attending performances is 8 million.
— Recognition of the vital contribution
made by amateur theatre to community cohesion, individual health
and fitness, and the artistic fabric of the nation.
— The inequalities in public support
between England, Scotland and Wales. The Drama Association of
Wales is funded by the Arts Council of Wales and the Scottish
Community Drama Association is funded by the Scottish Arts Council.
There is no public support for amateur theatre infrastructure
from Arts Council England.
— The need for an infrastructure body
for England, to develop best practice in new writing, cultural
diversity and other key issues, regional advocacy and access to
training.
— The lack of funding for amateur theatre
infrastructure compared to other voluntary arts activity eg music.
— The lack of funding for amateur theatre
infrastructure compared to other European countries.
— DCMS and Arts Council England's failure
to implement fully the Compact between Government and the Voluntary
and Community Sector in England and its Volunteering Code.
— The threat to some amateur theatre
activity posed by the Licensing Act 2003.
January 2005
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