POWYS County Council has lost its appeal against the Arts Council Wales’ decision to cut Theatr Powys’ funding – a decision which could see the authority forced to pay back over half a million pounds to the National Lottery.
There have been question marks over the Llandrindod Wells-based company all summer, after it was named as one of the 32 art organisations cut from the ACW’s funding, and Powys County Council (PCC) would not offer any guarantees on the Theatr Powys’ future.
The ACW currently provides nearly half of the funding for the organisation, and its decision has left PCC in a difficult position. An emergency meeting has been called at County Hall in Llandrindod Wells, to discuss the future of Theatr Powys.
PCC may also need to pay back half a million pounds to the National Lottery if it is forced to close the organisation’s drama centre in Tremont Road, which will then be no longer used for arts purposes.
The decision was revealed to Cllr Mike Hodges in last week’s Powys County Council meeting, when he questioned Cllr Gwyn Gwillim, board member for leisure and recreation, and asked for an update.
Cllr Mike Hodges said: “I’m very disappointed, Theatr Powys has been around for 38 years and has served tens of thousands of children. Twenty five per cent of what they supply is also Welsh language which I feel is very important in our area.
“I truly hope that in the next few days something will be sorted out between the ACW and PCC, but I don’t hold much hope from the ACW.”
Cllr Hodges also added that he thought that PCC would have to amalgamate Theatr Powys into it’s education budget if it has any plans to keep the organisation alive.