Arts Council chief hits back over 'tough' cuts

The head of Arts Council England has defended a raft of grants cuts set to hit more around 200 bodies across the UK.

Under plans revealed in the Evening Standard on Friday, 194 venues and organisations will have their funding withdrawn from April next year - leaving many fighting for their existence.

The cuts are part of the Arts Council's biggest spending review since it was set up 60 years ago and come despite a rise in the financial settlement awarded to it by the Government.

Today, the body's chief executive Peter Hewitt hit back at critics who have labelled the move "cowardly".

Writing in the Independent, he said the decision was "tough" but necessary to improve the quality and accessibility of arts in the UK. He said: "For the vast majority - 746 organisations - it was good news. They will receive an increase in funding of at least inflation.

"The news was even better for 211 of those 746 groups who can expect increases above inflation.

"But in order to do this we have had to take some tough decisions. In some cases we are simply to withdraw funding while in other cases we are allocating money differently to achieve the same aims."

He added: "Choosing not to fund an organisation is a very difficult decision and one we do not take lightly. Sometimes this is on the grounds of their performance to date and sometimes because we believe the money can be used more effectively elsewhere."

Among the victims of the proposals are two of Britain's best chamber orchestras and a popular arts centre.

The London Mozart Players, the City of London Sinfonia and the Windsor Arts Centre are among the fifth of arts organisations in the London area who are having their vital funds cut.

It meant the Windsor Arts Centre, where artist Damien Hirst held his first exhibition, has had to close just a week before Christmas. The centre was preparing for a busy festive season of music, comedy and theatre. But after an emergency meeting last week, it closed with immediate effect.

And the Mozart Players, once described as "one of the best chamber orchestras in the world" by a leading German magazine, face an uncertain future.

Former conductors include Jane Glover, who has conducted all the major symphony and chamber orchestras in Britain. The City of London Sinfonia has also had its funding cut.

Other victims include the north London-based Pop-Up Theatre company for children, which has been running for more than 25 years, and has been told that its £194,000 grant is likely to be withdrawn. Venues including the Drill Hall theatre off Tottenham Court Road and organisations such as Bubble which does promenade theatre, shows and community education in south London are also among the 53 hit in the capital.

Mr Hewitt said that all of those in question would have the chance to respond to the Council formally before it made its final decisions before the end of January.

He added: "Supporting artistic excellence is a real priority. Yes, some arts organisations will be unhappy with our decisions but the majority will have a stronger, better future.

"And we believe that as a result, in three years' time the arts in England will be of even higher quality, and accessible to even more people than they are now."