Arts Council Update
ARTS COUNCIL FUNDING CUT CONFIRMED
Arts Council England has confirmed its decision to cut 100% of Pop-Up's grant from 31st March. We received a letter on 1st February stating that we are to lose the full sum of £194,000.
Mike Dalton, Artistic Director said “This is a tragic mistake based on deeply flawed evidence; it takes away access to the arts from 15,000 young people a year. I have been shocked by the Arts Council’s recent actions, the deliberate dishonesty of its disinvestment process and its willingness to publicly smear a company whose work it has supported and promoted for over 20 years.
Pop-Up made a formal response to the Arts Council which shows that the data and process used to reach the decision contained serious flaws.
We have been overwhelmed with letters from friends, artists, supporters and young people who have written to protest against the Arts Council’s decision. Thank you on behalf of everyone at Pop-Up for taking the time to write.
We were shocked that the Arts Council’s automated letter responding to supporters contained some very damaging smears about the company including criticism of our finances, which the Arts Council sited as a particular strength in their own 2007 Review Letter and has never been raised in any way as a concern: “Particular strengths: Exceeding fundraising targets for the year 2006/7 leaving the company in a more stable financial position going forward.” (received 5/10/07) We have written to those we know about putting the record straight. Pop-Up Letter to Supporters
Pop-Up is funded by:
Read Pop-Up's response to the Arts Council
Download our full, formal response to ACE's proposal to cut Pop-Up's funding:
Download Feedback on Pop-Up's work:
Artists
Funders
Theatres & Arts Venues
Teachers on Pop-Up Shows
Teachers on Equal Voice
News
EQUAL VOICE IN NEED OF CORE FUNDING
It is Pop-Up’s primary aim that Equal Voice will continue despite the loss of Arts Council funding.
The company is now looking for backers from the commercial or charity sectors, who want to invest in the legacy that Equal Voice has created and ensure this essential, wide-reaching work .
The Equal Voice programme focuses on social and emotional aspects of learning and works proactively across the education spectrum. Projects vary from supporting the formative development of youngsters in nursery, to providing young jobseekers with skills for employment. Equal Voice is currently working in partnership with Kingston and Merton Education Business Partnership, on a three year project working with young people who are ‘not in education, employment or training’.
Often prioritising the toughest of schools, the Equal Voice programme has covered two thirds of London boroughs, building fervent support from teachers and education professionals. The work attracts money from other bodies such as London Councils, Esmee Fairbairn and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Despite these generous contributions, this invaluable programme is unsustainable without core funding.
If you or your organisation are interested in supporting Equal Voice through core funding, please contact Frederica Notley or Michael Dalton, on 0207 609 3339
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Michael Dalton – Artistic Director, on the Arts Council's decision to cut funding
“I am shocked by the Arts Council’s decision. Pop-Up is stronger than ever before and significantly contributes to theatre for young people – an area that the Arts Council claim is a priority for them.
We are constantly experimenting with theatrical forms and techniques to encourage all young people to watch and get involved in theatre. Audience figures are increasing and we have had excellent feedback from theatres, schools and young people about our current show, Soap. In this production, primary school life is presented using the soap-opera genre for the first time. Some schools are so enthusiastic that they have been using the script outlines we supply to explore their own daily dramas.
Pop-Up’s work is in great demand from theatres, schools and education professionals. There is not enough innovative theatre for young people – it is a shame that the opinions of our audience were not sought by the Arts Council before reaching this unjustifiable decision.”