Hands On Our Arts (1/2) By Fiona Carr

(1/2), (2/2).

ThisisUll has good arts coverage and a clear interest in the vibrancy of the cultural scene, even if it seems a bit indie/ethnic leaning. It may well be that nobody is interested in the Art galleries and museums, or the City Hall/New Theatre though there was a time events were featured on these pages around 2004. However it is astonishing not one comment has emerged about dark plans to privatise the council arts provision.

Deep in the Department, and even in the bowels of the increasingly similar Liberal-Democrats and Labour Groups (so who really runs the council ... the officers perhaps?) dark plans are afoot to create a Trust for the council arts provision. However Darth Hayton is being resisted by small cells forming a rebel alliance across most political groups.

Younger readers may not be aware but when the not-at-all-lamented County council was created Hull fought to keep direction of these cultural matters in Hull not Beverley and, unusually, was one of the few councils to succeed.

During the eighties the then left wing members of the cultural services committee (the late John Cartwright and the now MP Colin Challen) bizarrely led a campaign to sell off many artifacts/and paintings; narrowly they were defeated by the two Tories then on the committee creating a majority amongst the Forces of Reason in a split Labour Committee. Hull has had Keepers/curators/Directors/Members who are aware that the bedrock of arts provision in the city is itself, thanks to generous gifts from such as Ferens/Wilsons et al.

Despite these threats the council has held on to the sacred trust of keeping free provision of the city collections open to all. Despite several obstacles it continues to provide a reasonably large theatre, a regionally significant concert hall and a Film Theatre. Current proposals are to hive all this off to a trust run by 'the great and the good' and remove it from democratic accountability. Or, as it used to be called, 'privatisation'. The official reason is the increased costs and the fact that if it all becomes a charity the council is removed from certain tax liabilities on lighting/heating and of course from paying rates to ... itself!

Now many of us may wince at endless 'tribute' bands, yet another production of little orphan annie, or the screening policy at Hull Screen (if it can be found at the moment). Equally however there will be those who moan at world-class orchestras, international opera, or pre-West End runs of serious plays. These are all debates to be had, there are artistic arguments and there is the bottom line of the box office both competing as policy influences. However the fact remains that this debate can be had. Several of my friends are councilors (we all have crosses to bear) and they say their mailbags are not full of complaints or praise about the arts which gives them little leverage one way or another.

Continued.... Next Page (2/2)

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