In Thursday’s (12/16) Guardian (London), James Robinson writes, “The BBC said yesterday it would be willing to hold talks with other arts bodies about the future funding of some of the UK’s best known orchestras as they face up to government-imposed spending cuts. Some of the country’s largest and most famous orchestras, including the Hallé in Manchester, the Royal Philharmonic and the London Symphony, are facing cuts to their Arts Council of England funding. The corporation, which is also facing budget cuts, funds the BBC Symphony, the BBC Philharmonic, the BBC Scottish Symphony, the BBC Symphony Chorus based at the Barbican in London, the BBC Concert and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. It also runs the BBC Singers. Mark Thompson, the BBC director general, told MPs the corporation would be willing to enter discussions about closer co-operation between its orchestras and those funded by the Arts Council in order to ‘get more effective use of public money’. … Orchestras such as the Hallé and the Royal Philharmonic are funded by the Arts Council, which saw its budget slashed by just under 30% in George Osborne’s comprehensive spending review in October.”
Posted December 17, 2010
