Iconic Birmingham venues, including the CBSO and REP Theatre, face total council funding loss due to budget cuts.
These venues face total loss of support. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra faces trouble. Birmingham REP Theatre could suffer. The Birmingham Royal Ballet and IKON Gallery are affected too. Project grants for culture may also vanish. This hits events like Heritage Week. Black History Month could also be hurt. These cuts caused worry last year.
The CBSO has received council funds for 104 years. They are concerned about the impact. They want to stay a vital part of Birmingham. A TUC rep blamed the council. They are “dumping” problems on culture. He questioned what this says about Birmingham.
He fears the cuts endanger top groups. He wondered if the council realizes arts bring visitors. Does the council want a “cultural wasteland?” he asked. A council member, Liz Clements, teared up at a meeting. She worries about damage to Birmingham’s culture. She feels arts are not a luxury.
Arts give people a reason to live there, she said. She feels devastated but knows they must balance the budget. Council leader John Cotton admits the cuts are hard. He believes the city still boasts vibrant culture. He says the crisis sparked new talks.
The talks focus on securing cultural activity. They will work with others to fund it, he stated. Culture is important for city residents. The council will partner with others. They want to ensure culture thrives. Auditors found issues causing council problems.
Problems include equal pay disputes. Poor budgeting also factored in. Service issues and IT problems occurred. Past funding cuts also had an impact. The budget faces review this month.