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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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The rest of Wales must not lose out because of WMC funding crisis
October 17, 2007 12:00 AM
Financial problems faced by the Wales Millennium Centre should not be used as an excuse to pour additional public money into the capital City at the expense of the rest of Wales, the Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Communities, Peter Black, has said.
Commenting in advance of the statement today by the Heritage Minister on requests by the WMC management to pay off a £13.5 million debt and increase the public subsidy from £750,000 to £4 million a year, Mr. Black said that although it was important to keep the building open, the Government should not abandon the principle established previously of matching any revenue contributions to the WMC with an increase in subsidies for the Arts elsewhere in Wales.
"The Wales Millennium Centre is a major asset to Cardiff and an important Welsh iconic building and as such a way must be found of keeping it open and making it more financially sustainable," said Mr. Black. "However, a bail-out on the scale of that requested would just reinforce the view elsewhere in Wales of Cardiff soaking up a disproportionate amount of public funding compared to other Welsh regions."
"When the then Welsh Liberal Democrat Culture Minister put in place the funding for this building she recognised this problem by establishing additional subsidy for the Arts elsewhere in Wales. That principle should not be abandoned in the rush to keep the WMC open."
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