Dame Judi 'shocked' by proposed arts funding cuts

Dame Judi Dench has strong connections to Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds

Hollywood actress Dame Judi Dench has backed calls for a council to reconsider proposals to completely scrap its arts funding.

Last week, Suffolk County Council announced plans to cut £65m from its budget, including ending £500,000 of funding to the arts and museums sector.

The council said the cuts were needed to provide extra support to children's services and adult care.

Dame Judi, a patron of Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, said she was "deeply shocked to hear of the proposed cut to its funding by Suffolk County Council".

"[The theatre] plays a vital role in the lives of so many, especially those most vulnerable," the Oscar-winning star said, in a statement released via The Theatre Royal on Facebook.

"The removal of this support is heartbreaking. Regional theatre is the foundation of British theatre and its place in our lives must be protected."

Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds says the council funding equates to one third of its total subsidy

The council has provided funding to seven arts organisations across the county, including DanceEast, Eastern Angles Theatre Company, First Light Festival, The New Wolsey Theatre, Primadonna Festival, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and Suffolk Artlink.

Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds said the £100,000 funding it received was used to run a number of weekly classes for vulnerable people.

Councillor Richard Rout says the demand on council services is at an "all-time high"

The council said it hoped cuts would enable it to spend an additional £73m on children's services and adult care over the next two years.

Richard Rout, the council's Conservative deputy leader and cabinet member for finance and environment, said: "This is one of those really difficult decisions. We absolutely value the arts and our museums.

"There is competition for every pound across all our services and I understand that each service means something to someone."

Councillors will vote on the proposals at a full council meeting on 15 February.