§ 67. Mr. Keyasked the Minister for the Arts what action is being taken to encourage theatre touring.
§ Mr. LuceThe Arts Council is giving priority to the expansion and encouragement of theatre touring. Besides its day-to-day encouragement of touring opera, dance and drama at all levels, the council is planning to establish an independent production company, for which it will provide one third of the investment required. The remainder of the money, which will come from private sources, will thus be new money available to promote up to six new touring productions annually. The return earned by the productions will be available for reinvestment in future events.
I am greatly encouraged by the practical steps being taken by the Arts Council to enlarge its touring base, and I look forward to the development of similar schemes in other fields.