THE GOVERNMENT has found a new ally in the Arts Council of Great Britain.
The council has strated that it is willing to organise cuts in arts subsidies on behalf of the Tories, and it has no qualms about employing the most underhand tactics in carrying them through.
Just Xmas, the Arts Council produced a hit list of forty-one funded vi kalisaliulis whose cash withdrawn and among the remaining ACGB subsidised projects.
The axed groups are mainly the small scale arts centres, theatre companies and arts projects which have directed their energies to working with local communities, trade people and children, and people in institutions.
In fact, all those sections of the population who can't afford patronise the more prestigious artsuc pro jects like the National i nealre.
Shakespeare Company, Lie Covent dalucil Opera House and the English National Opera who receive between them the lion's share of Arts Council funds.
Socialist theatre has suffered bie Workers- Broadside Mobile Theatre has lost its grant of £32,000 which acBROADSIDE MOBILE WORKERS THEATRE PARTICIPATION • THE WALTZ Socialist Challenge 29 January 1981 Page 14 recently demoncounts for over 70 per cent of their income. Broadside told us: We Paula Brown had been extremely concented lorseveral ths by the attacks in the media made on socialisi theatre groups. notably Tory MP Teddy Taylor. But the anthe multicul Arts Council consultation.
Income Broadside can afford pay its nine workers unti the end of March sendare pull final all her SLODS other sources of income. It is not hopeful about other bodies control grants to the arts stepping in to help As Paula points out: "The of grant Slizild withdrawal will certainly decrease chances of alteralree fu hard pressed already pressed local authorities and regional arts associations.
CUT PRICE WELFARE DIVIDE AND RULE BRITANNIA SHOW
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