News Release : 26 June 2001

ASSEMBLY OPPOSES 'CULTURE BY DICTAT' FROM LONDON

The arts council of England's plans will weaken the regional dimension to arts development, jeopardizing regional distinctiveness and leading to 'culture by dictat' from London. This is the warning from the South East England Regional Assembly.

The Assembly's Executive Committee was debating Arts Council Chairman Gerry Robinson's letter responding to the widespread opposition received to the Council's 'Prospectus for Change' issued in March this year. The Prospectus for Change advocates abolishing the current Regional Arts Boards in favour of a single centralised arts funding and development organisation for England.

Assembly members had already voiced their concern that the proposals ran entirely against the grain of increased regional devolution. The importance of the arts in expressing regional and local identity had been entirely disregarded in the prospectus, the Assembly felt, and the crucial role of local authorities in supporting local arts development had been ignored.

Said Paul Bevan, Chief Executive, South East England Regional Assembly: "While the Assembly supports the rationalisation of the two regional arts boards covering the South East (Southern Arts and South East Arts) into one body, the autonomy and influence of the regional arts voice remains absolutely essential if we are to stop London imposing on the rest of England the arts and culture they think is good for us.

" Prior to the General Election, the Regional Assembly raised these concerns with the former Secretary of State, Chris Smith. However, we fear that with the Cabinet reshuffle and the new appointment of Tessa Jowell as Secretary of State, our concerns will be overlooked and that Gerry Robinson, with his business background in hostile takeovers, will try to steamroll his plans through before any fresh opposition can be raised."

Following last week's Executive Committee meeting, the Regional Assembly will be sending a letter to the new Secretary of State to reiterate their concerns.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
   
   
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
   
   
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
   
   
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
   
   
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

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