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Protesters who work in theatre gather in Piccadilly Circus wearing white masks |
Theatre workers act against funding cuts
LOOKING like a sinister scene from Dr Who, more than 200 protesters from the world of theatre donned white plastic masks to oppose Arts Council funding cuts.
Theatre directors, actors, producers and writers braved poor weather at Piccadilly Circus as they stood in silence for 15 minutes.
The proposed cuts, taking effect from April this year, are part of a “restructuring” of the Arts Council’s funding criteria based on efficiency and ticket sales.
The Drill Hall in Bloomsbury was told before Christmas that its £250,000 annual grant would not be available in April. But Daniel Goldman, a theatre director and one of the organisers, said that the protest was a stand against Arts Council procedure.
Freelance theatre director Noah Birkstead-Breen said: “The Arts Council has to involve theatre practitioners.” Mr Goldman said masks were chosen because the protest was “not about individuals”. |
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