Interpreting the County Council’s line on the Tower Arts Centre

The County Council issued a press release about the future of the Tower Arts Centre – which is remarkable for what it doesn’t say – as well as what it does say.

The County Council says:

Leader of Hampshire County Council Ken Thornber said: ‘We have a very real demographic pressure in Adult Services. The number of vulnerable adults in Hampshire is continually growing year on year. We need to ensure we have the resources to be able to support them and provide for their care needs – this is a statutory responsibility that the County Council has, as well as the duties to look after children and young people and the environment.
‘This pressure has meant that I have had to ask all departments within the County Council to make budget reductions and savings in order for us to meet these responsibilities and indeed our duty of care. This includes the Recreation and Heritage Department which incorporates arts, and they too have to make their share of savings.

What they don’t say:

According to the latest figures, Hampshire County Council spends less on social services per head of population than any other county council in the country. They are in the bottom 20% of spending on adult social care.
The Tower represents less than 0.02% of total County Council funding and 0.3% of the culture budget. Despite receiving the lowest county council subsidy and the highest contribution from a district authority, the Tower is being cut harder than any other Hampshire County Council owned Arts Centre. All other arts centres are being given time to develop alternative funding.

The County Council says:

Provision of Arts Centres is not a statutory duty of Hampshire County Council, and indeed we are one of the only authorities in the country that runs arts centres.’

What they don’t say:

There are more than 200 arts centres across the UK directly managed and/or funded by local authorities.

The County Council says:

Consultation has since taken place on the proposal that Kings School will take over the management of the centre. The Head Teacher has given a commitment to continue community classes and groups at the Tower Arts Centre and has also stated that those groups will take priority over pupil classes held within the centre.

What they don’t say:

This statement makes no commitment to an evening programme at the Tower under school management. There is also no commitment to the current range of community classes.

The County Council says:

At the public meeting on 1 November a key concern raised was the future of the evening programme at the Tower. Since then a considerable amount of behind the scenes work has been undertaken by County Council officers to ensure evening programming in Winchester not only continues, but evolves to provide more choice for all residents across the city and beyond. This information will also be incorporated in the report going before Councillor Thornber for his decision day.

What they don’t say:

This again makes no commitment to the evening programme at the Tower Arts Centre. Caroline Felton’s report, and submissions by the University, made it clear that there is no substitute for the Tower Arts Centre elsewhere in Winchester – so loss of the evening programme will mean a loss to the people of Winchester. In particular the report made clear that the Discovery Centre is not a substitute for the Tower Arts Centre.

The County Council says:

The mere fact that we want to keep the Tower Arts Centre open is indication enough that we are committed to doing all we can to support the arts in Winchester and indeed the entire county. Officers are continuing to work behind the scenes for a solution that will not only save taxpayers’ money but will ensure cultural provision in Winchester continues and indeed can be expanded upon into the future.

What they don’t say:

It’s not enough to keep the name of an ‘Arts Centre’ for the Tower Arts Centre to remain an arts centre. There needs to be an Arts Centre programme – alongside the education programme – as well. This press release makes no commitment to this and it is highly misleading to claim that Mr Thornber is seeking to keep the Tower open as an Arts Centre.