§ 10. Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley)What plans his Department has to support the Tower Opera tour of England. [98976]
§ The Minister for the Arts (Mr. Alan Howarth)I am aware of the admirable work of Opera Box in providing opera to new audiences and of the enthusiastic response that there has been in Wales to Tower. As my hon. Friend knows, however, my Department does not provide direct support to artistic organisations. Funding for the arts in England is channelled through the Arts Council of England and regional arts boards. It is for them to take decisions on the funding of individual organisations.
§ Ann ClwydI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that answer. As a former member of the Arts Council of Great Britain, I find it extremely parochial of the Arts Council of England to turn down the application for a touring grant for the "Tower" opera, which tells the story of a highly successful workers' co-operative. Despite the best efforts of the Conservative party, which wanted to close the co-operative down because it said that it had no future, it is now a successful enterprise, making a profit year on year.
337 Is my hon. Friend aware that the application for a touring grant was turned down, apparently because the Arts Council of England said that there was no interest in the opera in England? That is despite the fact that 15 theatres in England had said that they wanted it to come to their theatres. To ensure that this cultural delight is not taken away from the people of England, I have booked the Hackney Empire to show the "Tower" opera on 1 March—St. David's day—and I am glad to invite all my friends and colleagues in the House to that event.
§ Mr. HowarthThe whole House recognises my hon. Friend's passionate commitment both to the Tower colliery and to the "Tower" opera. She will be a doughty champion of the cause. May I offer her a ray of hope? Since the Arts Council conveyed its decision that it would not support the touring of the "Tower" opera in England, it has reconsidered its commitment to touring and proposed to increase its funding for touring. If my hon. Friend can demonstrate that 15 or more theatres in England would welcome the opportunity to stage this production and that the production has been received with critical acclaim in Wales, it may be worth her while to pursue another conversation with Mr. Peter Hewitt, chief executive of the Arts Council.