§ 35. Mr. Freudasked the Minister for the Arts whether he will make direct funding available to Sadler's Wells; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceNo. Funding is a matter for the Arts Council; but I know that the council is concerned to see that its clients, notably the Sadler's Wells royal ballet, can continue to use this historic and much loved theatre. The council has announced today that it will hold a meeting on Friday 14 February with Sadler's Wells and the three companies that regularly use the theatre. This is to discuss the possibility that the companies should be given additional funds to enable them to pay economic levels of rent. In that way the Arts Council would make a substantial contribution to keeping the theatre open.
I applaud this initiative, and I hope and believe that a scheme on these lines, combined with other fund-raising efforts as appropriate, will enable the main stage of the theatre to remain open.
I understand that there is also a separate plan to open a new community studio during 1986–87. No doubt Sadler's Wells will be discussing this with the Arts Council and the relevant successor authorities.