Arts: National Theatre Wales says it may shut after cuts

National Theatre Wales says its work has reached 331,000 live audience members over its 12 years

National Theatre Wales has said it fears it will close following a decision to cut its funding.

The Arts Council of Wales (ACW) said last week that the theatre would not be included in almost £30m of grants.

The theatre has now written to the ACW stating: "Wales will lose National Theatre Wales in six months' time."

It has called for "interim" funding while a review of English-language theatre is done. The ACW said it was happy to meet the theatre.

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Last week, the ACW announced almost £30m of grants, and said it received a record number of multi-year funding applications, and "difficult decisions" were made.

It added that those that were not among the 81 organisations who will receive the money would be able to apply for other funding.

Its grant funding comes from the Welsh government and National Lottery and is increasing across most areas of the creative arts.

When the investment review was published, the ACW stated that "difficult decisions" had been taken.

Its chairman, Dafydd Rhys, said National Theatre Wales's application for funding "had not convinced".

National Theatre Wales, which is based in Cardiff, started in 2008 and has received Arts Council funding since then. It said it had generated an "additional £11m worth of investment into theatre in Wales".

In that time it said it had reached more than 330,000 live audience members and more than eight million people online or on television.

In a letter to the ACW, National Theatre Wales said it would appeal against the decision and had called for "an interim position" to be looked at.

It warned that if the funding decision was allowed to stand then "Wales will lose National Theatre Wales in six months' time. If lost, it will not be easily or affordably replaced."

It added: "We seek constructive conversation with you and your colleagues at the earliest opportunity to examine the possibility of an interim position for National Theatre Wales while the review takes place."

It also said it was one of Wales' largest theatrical businesses and it "employed 645 people last year alone".

The ACW said it had received the theatre's letter and that they would be happy to meet representatives to discuss the matter.

It would not be commenting on its decision, it said.

"This is to protect the integrity of the appeals process and all parties involved," a spokesman said.

The Welsh government said: "Under the arm's-length funding principle, the investment review is an issue for the Arts Council of Wales.

"We are pleased that the first review following the pandemic has been completed and look forward to seeing how the arts council's decisions will support and benefit the communities of Wales."

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