Call for public meeting to save Theatr Harlech
Sep 6 2010 by Hywel Trewyn, Daily Post
THE future of under-threat Theatr Harlech will come under the spotlight at a public meeting, promised the man in charge of changes last night.
But board chairman Gerallt Hughes warned it was “too easy to react emotionally” to events after four workers at the theatre were told they would be losing their jobs , with redundancy proceedings due to begin in the next few weeks.
Mr Hughes said there had been a lot of speculation about the future of the theatre, which, during the last few years, has made a profit.
The number of users had also increased by 31%, added Mr Hughes of Dolgellau, former chief executive of Meirionnydd District Council.
Mr Hughes said: “It’s not being run at a loss. I have promised people we will hold a public meeting to discuss the matter.
“The fact is that many people have misinterpreted the situation.
“It’s nothing to do with the leadership of the theatre”
Alluding to an online campaign on Facebook to save the theatre, he said: “I would be grateful for the support of local people in the Harlech area and theatre attendees. The theatre’s board are very supportive of any campaign but, unfortunately, see ourselves in a situation created by the Arts Council’s new investment plan policy.”
Mr Hughes said the board hadn’t had much time to react after the Arts Council of Wales announced in June it was stopping its £72,000 annual grant to the Theatr as part of a review, which saw a total of 32 arts organisations throughout Wales also losing money.
As a result of the bombshell, the theatre announced plans to take productions to the wider community of south Gwynedd, rather than just using its building.
In March, Snowdonia National Park planners gave the green light to a £14m Canolfan Cambria Centre on the Coleg Harlech site, which it shares with Theatr Harlech.
The development would include a 266-seat theatre, new conference and exhibition facilities, business units as well as changes to Theatr Harlech.
It would complement plans for a five-star “destination” hotel on the next-door site of the now derelict St David's Hotel.
Last night Mr Hughes said: “We need to discuss how to move ahead. If the college was to be redeveloped there were fears that darkness would fall on the Theatr.
“We have a 15-year lease left on the building. That’s why we decided on the Constellation Programme, to bring the theatre out into the community while the building work was going on. We were trying to plan ahead carefully.”
The plan would bring professional and community arts to towns and villages across south Gwynedd – where the nearest other theatres are at Llandudno or Aberystwyth.
The board have already applied to the Arts Council for £50,000-60,000 to fund the Constellation programme. They are hopeful of getting a decision in their favour by the end of this month.
Mr Hughes added: “Some of the rules regarding staffing means that we will have to use freelance and part-time staff.”
2010-09-06
Daily Post North Wales - News - North Wales News - Call for public meeting to save Theatr Harlech
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