Theatre defends Arts Council

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32777, 30 November 1971, Page 12

Theatre defends Arts Council

The Auckland Theatre Trust—which runs Mercury Theatre, the biggest single recipient of Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council money outside opera and ballet—has come to the defence of the council in the controversy over plans for ballet and opera.

Last year the trust received $50,000 from the arts council. The trust board had received warm encourage-

• ment for its artistic and . financial policies from the arts council, and had never ; experienced any inter- : ference in its decisions said l the chairman of the board , (Mr Roy Walker) in a state- ' ment. ; Mr Walker said that in : view of the public con- . troversy over recent actions . of the arts council concerning the Ballet and Opera Trust, he would like to place

1 before the public some facts s about the Mercury Theatre r and its relationship with the ■ arts council. 1 “We have certainly had 1 requests turned down, but ■ this has been because of the council’s inability to provide i funds for such things as - development, inflation, or for 3 an individual proposal,” said - Mr Walker. t “In the case of the arts i council fellowship recently

awarded to our director for overseas study leave, we have even had to provide the money ourselves until the council can repay us in 1972. At the same time, we have continuously pressed the Government to provide more money for the arts council to use to the best effect.

“Mercury’s subsidy from the council amounts to 22 per cent of our total income, and this enables us to maintain our seat prices about 65c below what unsubsidised prices would be.”

Mr Walker said that it appeared the council approved the Auckland board’s policy, and he considered that the council had acted with great propriety in all its dealings with the Mercury Theatre.

“I am sure we would not expect the arts council constantly to provide extra money to make up operating deficits, for if it did so we know there would be less money for those who may be running more efficient operations,” he said. “We only hope that the Government will not view the present controversy as an excuse to deny the increase so desperately needed by the arts council, but rather will acknowledge that the council has tried to act in the best public interest within its responsibility—that of distributing public money as wisely and widely as possible,” said Mr Walker.