Page 7 - link magazine

The state of Swindon Borough Council The Link Magazine • February 2002 7

Investment in dance could be destroyed. Town's 30 year vision threatened
By Barry Gandberg, Lecturer at Swindon College & Brunel University
The proposal by Swindon Borough ble for the presentation of Health and Safety improvements
Council to relocate Swindon Dance Jo Cansell, a many nationally acclaimed such as the installation of a new
from the Town Hall would put at former student at dance and theatre compa- disabled chair lift.
serious risk a thriving business Swindon Dance nies that otherwise would Moving to another location
g
with 48,000 community users a P erformin with never find their way to would devastate its income, de-
year. Nuno Campos of Swindon. stroy its strategic and artistic plans,
the Henri Oguike
The cost to rehouse the dance Dance Company The quality of the lives of lose its status as a National Dance
studios in today's current finan- a very wide range of our Agency, Swindon being one of a
Photo: Chris Nash
cial climate would be prohibitive. community would suffer if very few towns with such recogni-
It would probably have to close, Swindon Dance were to tion.
given such short notice of eviction. close. Swindon's bid for a major Public
Swindon Dance is not just a Our town will also have Finance Initiative bid (PFI) to the
dance school. lost long term investments government to develop cultural
It provides a unique and essen- by Southern Arts of facilities as part of its 30 year vi-
tial service to our community that £172,000 per annum, £15 to sion would be jeopardised. The
has been cultivated by many years £20,000 in additional grants director of Southern Arts has al-
of experience. It offers opportuni- and earned income of some ready stated that its support for
ties to people of all ages, cultures £130,000. the bid would not be forthcoming
and abilities. The Foundation for Sport if the cuts were made, therefore
Through its programme, Swin- and the Arts has just in- seriously damaging any hopes for
don Dance has enriched, inspired, what Swindon Dance has to offer. vested £100,000 to refurbish the ever gaining city status.
changed and indeed saved many It is a way that many people can Town Hall with sprung floors, The closure of a nationally ac-
lives that may have turned to drugs communicate, express themselves showers, new seats in the theatre claimed and funded centre of ex-
and crime if not for the opportuni- and reap the rewards of achieving and technical equipment. And re- cellence does not send out positive
ties that it has offered. their capabilities and potential, cently there has been expensive signals.
Countless young people from when all other methods fail.
deprived socio-economic back- Thousands of ordinary women
grounds have developed skills and and men have gained confidence, Swindon will become a sadder place
learned disciplines at Swindon higher levels of self-esteem and By Kaye O'Neill, a Friend of Swindon Festival of Literature
Dance that have helped integrate found a new lease of life through Whilst understanding the huge de- The festival has several private
them into society and indeed in- the pleasure of dancing. mandsonSwindonCounciltofund backers like Waterstones and
troduce them to successful profes- Swindon Dance has helped de- many projects, it would seem a Dominic Winter Book Auctions
sions. velop and produce many of the criminal act not to continue its very and is constantly looking for new
Large numbers of people with top professionals that we find to- modest funding of around £5,500 sponsors. It is a hugely successful
learning difficulties and physical day in the world of dance and thea- for Swindon's 9th Swindon Festi- enterprise, increasing the numbers
y
disabilities have benefited from tre. They are also solel responsi- val of Literature. of visitors to Swindon every year.
I gather the situation is so bad The town missed out on city sta-
that officers would not even put tuslastyear.Axingfundingtosuch
Visual arts contribute to education, and forward a request for funding for an important showcase will do
to the whole community consideration by councillors. nothing for its image.
This year's
By independent artists Toni Robinson and Gordon Dickinson stars will be
[email protected] Margaret
How can we think of reducing our alongside professionals. As com- Thatcher and
already limited cultural facilities munity artists we see the over- Mo Mowlem
in Swindon? whelmingly positive effects that and a host of
We are writing in response to education through the arts can well known
the proposed reductions to art have on people of all ages. Art in writers, ac-
funding which could result in the education has shown an increase tors, poets
closure of Artscape, the council in self-esteem, confidence, social and musi-
department that encourages and skills and enthusiasm to learn. cians.
promotes visual arts activity Visual language offers people The festi-
across the borough. We feel it an alternative method of commu- val's contri-
would be a catastrophe to elimi- nication which can help them bution to the
natethe cultural opportunities that achieve in other areas. If Swindon Storyteller Cat Wetherall gets interactive with curriculum
Artscape gives to the community. wants to become a city it needs to youngsters from Westlea School at last year's festival was a posi-
The council proposes to take examine the arts and cultural ex- tive com-
funding from the arts to give to periences that other cities have to ment in the otherwise disasterous
education but we feel strongly that offer. While the rest of the country Bowl provide a high standard of Ofsted report on the way Swindon
Artscape is an education provider is raising the profile of the arts, our entertainment that the whole fam- runs education. Withdrawing
in that it supports the Children's council is proposing to eliminate ily can look forward to and enjoy funds would mean that it would
University, Artyfacts and many what small provision we have. together. This is the way to build be unable to continue the brilliant
visual arts projects within our As parents we feel that the very community and a culture for a city. work of increasing the range of
schools. popular Swindon City Festival, the Below, an example of art in the com- experiences for our children.
These experiences provide new Festival of Literature and World munity at Cambria Bridge play area. Think again about your priori-
opportunities for children to work Music Events at The Town Garden Makes you think! ties Swindon.