Arts Council reject Weekend Arts College plea to save funding

Published: 26th May, 2011
by DAN CARRIER

THE Weekend Arts College (WAC) has been told an appeal against a massive funding cut has been unsuccessful.

The performing arts centre, which has trained scores of renowned actors and musicians, had received £100,000 a year from the Arts Council.

But the Haverstock Hill college was recently told that from next year they would receive nothing – putting their future in doubt. 

Among WAC’s alumni are Oscar-nominated actors Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Sophie Okonedo, Brit and Mobo-winning rapper Ms Dynamite, and Dappy from the rap group N-Dubz. 

The Arts Council will continue to bankroll the Royal Opera House, the Barbican and the National Ballet but have cut funding for smaller, grassroots organisations. WAC provides subsidised music lessons to hundreds of young people whose families are on low incomes.

World-renowned jazz pianist Julian Joseph, also a former WAC student, said: “If they do not reconsider, they are just proving how out of touch they are. 

“This is a small amount of money, given to a scheme that produces  benefits in such a profound and great way. If I was the Arts Council, I would be incredibly embarrassed by this awful decision.”

Mr Joseph attended the college in the 1980s and has since carved a reputation as being one of the leading pianists in his field. 

He added: “It has developed and grown into something quite remarkable. When I went there I felt I was part of something very special. There was tutoring, teaching and mentoring, which was contemporary and relevant, and was in step with things I listened to and my ambitions in music. There is no where else like it.”

He also said that the children who use the music service did not always become professionals – but took their experiences into other aspects of their lives. 

“People are realising more and more that engaging with the arts is a doorway to engaging with everything that is key to getting on in life, to self-motivation, to giving people a sense of wellbeing and a sense of value,” said Mr Joseph.

The college now plan to take their complaint further, and will refer the Arts Council to an independent funding review body that can overturn the decision.

A spokesman for WAC said: “Arts Council England’s own report states that our list of alumni is ‘impressive and the scale of delivery makes it an important contributor in delivering training opportunities to children and young people with least opportunities’ and yet they have still cut our funding. WAC serves hundreds of young people every week, and represents extremely good value for money for disadvantaged young people.”

An Arts Council spokeswoman said they stood by their original decision to cut all of WAC’s funding. 

She said: “After a thorough review of the complaint, we concluded that we had correctly followed our  procedures. We would like to reiterate that we acknowledge WAC’s work in providing opportunities for disadvantaged young people. However, with limited resources at our disposal, we chose to invest in those organisations we felt would most effectively maintain and extend important work with young people across the country.”