Arts grant reductions ‘shortsighted’

ACADEMY-AWARD winner Sir Sam Mendes has criticised Arts Council England’s (ACE) new funding programme, which will result in grant reductions to the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, insisting it will “wreak long-lasting havoc” on the wider industry.

A number of high-profile London venues have seen funding reduced or cut entirely in an effort to allow other areas of the country to receive larger settlements.

Filmmaker Sir Sam, who is founding artistic director of the Donmar, said: “Cutting the

Donmar’s funding is a short-sighted decision that will wreak long lasting damage on the wider industry.

“The Donmar has been at the heart of British theatre for three decades, and has a hard-won legacy of punching well above its weight in both its ambition and reach.”

The Royal Opera House in London was another prestigious institution seeing a cut to funding following the ACE’s national portfolio announcement yesterday.

ACE chairman Sir Nicholas Serota said the increase of funded organisations was partly a reflection of the increase of applications.