Telephone 0800 032 1127

NODA slams government free ticket ‘gimmick’

24th September 2008

The professional body for amateur theatre today attacked the launch of a free theatre ticket plan launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in conjunction with Arts Council, calling it an elitist gimmick.

The £2.5m government-funded scheme will see the release of a million free tickets to young people across England. However, The National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) claims it is bitterly disappointed, in what it calls yet another elitist move by DCMS and the Arts Council.

Tony Gibbs, chief executive of NODA said: “NODA is deeply disappointed that once again DCMS and the Arts Council have introduced a costly measure that deliberately excludes over 5 million amateur and volunteer enthusiasts from benefiting from the scheme.

“By offering the scheme as an opt-in measure for theatres, they have deliberately sealed the fate of those theatres who simply can not afford to participate by giving away free tickets for a period of two years. Most of these theatres of course are the theatres used by amateur groups. Once again, we have an initiative that will benefit professional theatre and not grass roots amateur theatre practitioners and their supporters throughout the country”

Calling for an end to the elitist view of the arts, Gibbs said: “If DCMS and the Arts Council really want to encourage young people to participate in the arts, they should be focusing on funding those very young people to participate at a local level in the first instance as opposed to issuing such gimmicks.”

NODA is now launching the Let Them Be campaign with the aim of raising awareness and opening doors to young people interested in theatre.

Commenting on the growing elitist view of the arts Gibbs added: “As soon as the Arts Council was founded in 1946 it said that it was only going to fund excellence. Compare that to the Sports Council who said it would fund participation, and you can see why an elitist view of the arts has been created and why theatre is under threat. DCMS and the Arts Council must realise that without the dedication of over 2,500 amateur theatre groups across the country, we will fail to recruit and more importantly retain young people and their interest in our theatrical heritage.”

Ends

For further information contact
Sabina Kadic, Axis Media Group
T: 0141 889 68 68
M: 0789 460 75 84
E: Sabina@axismediagroup.co.uk

Notes:
1. Interviews with Tony Gibbs available on request by contacting Sabina Kadic.

2. The National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA), founded in 1899, is the main representative body for amateur theatre in the UK. It has a membership of some 2500 amateur/community theatre groups and 3000 individual enthusiasts throughout the UK.

3. Arts Council Statement: Alan Davey, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said:
"As our Arts Council Plan says, we want young people to grow up with a strong sense of the possibilities the arts give them. In order to have that happen, we must make it easy for young people to get access to excellent, inspiring art. The free theatre offer is an exciting new step in that journey.

"We are pleased that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has recognised how important it is to involve young people in the arts and has committed an extra £2.5million to support this bold initiative. We look forward to working with colleagues in theatres across the country to make it a reality."

Scottish Event Awards - Winner telephone 0800 032 1127 |
email info@axismediagroup.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales | 4375076
website designed by stream media | sitemap