§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts if he will list the successes of his Department in providing for the arts in the north-west of England in the last year.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[pursuant to his reply, 20 March 1985, c. 517]: Provision for the performing arts in the north-west is in the hands of the Arts Council of Great Britain, North West Arts and Merseyside Arts. Eight major theatre companies, two symphony orchestras, a ballet company and a very wide range of other arts bodies are maintained in the region. The Arts Council also funded a sculpture exhibition at the Liverpool garden festival. Arts activities were well supported by most of the local authorities in the region.
The Arts Council will shortly announce the grant of additional development money to the two regional arts associations, and to arts bodies in the region, as a part of its "Glory of the Garden" strategy.
626WOn 8 March, phase I of the "Tate in the North" project for a major gallery in Liverpool was announced. My right hon. and noble Friend is making £0.5 million available for this gallery.