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Northern Ballet chief: higher cuts to arts would have caused 'devastation' Northern Ballet chief: higher cuts to arts would have caused 'devastation'
(3 months later)
It's unusual to welcome a cut but Mark Skipper echoed the emotions of arts leaders and museum bosses across the UK when he heard George Osborne's cuts would amount to no more than 5%. "It is a relief. It is a good outcome."It's unusual to welcome a cut but Mark Skipper echoed the emotions of arts leaders and museum bosses across the UK when he heard George Osborne's cuts would amount to no more than 5%. "It is a relief. It is a good outcome."
Skipper is chief executive of Leeds-based Northern Ballet and like many other arts organisations, he had feared far worse. "We were looking at models of 15% and the devastation that could have caused. It would have been hopeless, there would be no way we could have continued to do what we do."Skipper is chief executive of Leeds-based Northern Ballet and like many other arts organisations, he had feared far worse. "We were looking at models of 15% and the devastation that could have caused. It would have been hopeless, there would be no way we could have continued to do what we do."
He manages a company that occupies a new building with some of the most enviable dance studio space of anywhere in the UK. It is purpose-built, with beautiful views over the city. Apart, perhaps, from Skipper's spartan office which looks out over a car park and the windowless neighbouring building of the department of work and pensions.He manages a company that occupies a new building with some of the most enviable dance studio space of anywhere in the UK. It is purpose-built, with beautiful views over the city. Apart, perhaps, from Skipper's spartan office which looks out over a car park and the windowless neighbouring building of the department of work and pensions.
Not that he's complaining although he concedes: "I should get another picture on the wall."Not that he's complaining although he concedes: "I should get another picture on the wall."
Yesterday, as he watched Osborne deliver his statement, there was relief that the heavily trailed announcement was what was predicted.Yesterday, as he watched Osborne deliver his statement, there was relief that the heavily trailed announcement was what was predicted.
More or less that is. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport was due to be cut by 8%, but Osborne said 7%. When your overall budget is one of the smallest in Whitehall, percentage points matter.More or less that is. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport was due to be cut by 8%, but Osborne said 7%. When your overall budget is one of the smallest in Whitehall, percentage points matter.
Museum leaders were also content, welcoming the news that they will be given greater operational freedom to spend their money as they see fit.Museum leaders were also content, welcoming the news that they will be given greater operational freedom to spend their money as they see fit.
Arts companies like Northern Ballet now have to go through the process of applying to Arts Council England for a chunk of the reduced pot of money for 2015 onwards.Arts companies like Northern Ballet now have to go through the process of applying to Arts Council England for a chunk of the reduced pot of money for 2015 onwards.
Skipper admitted he does not want a repeat of last time when they were salami-sliced by 15%, along with all the other – much better financed, Northern Ballet point out – ballet and opera companies.Skipper admitted he does not want a repeat of last time when they were salami-sliced by 15%, along with all the other – much better financed, Northern Ballet point out – ballet and opera companies.
His annoyance was memorably captured by a BBC film crew for a documentary. "It was appalling," he recalled. "But we immediately got on with trying to just solve the problem."His annoyance was memorably captured by a BBC film crew for a documentary. "It was appalling," he recalled. "But we immediately got on with trying to just solve the problem."
Northern Ballet talked through the options, one of which was to lose dancers, to go down from 40 to 30, a horrible situation risking the cancellation of performances.Northern Ballet talked through the options, one of which was to lose dancers, to go down from 40 to 30, a horrible situation risking the cancellation of performances.
That led to the creation of a 'Buy Back a Dancer' fundraising scheme and then the "Sponsor a dancer' scheme. It worked. Northern Ballet has raised around £500,000. Separate from that it managed to nearly double the amount of money it raises from philanthropic sources to around £650,000.That led to the creation of a 'Buy Back a Dancer' fundraising scheme and then the "Sponsor a dancer' scheme. It worked. Northern Ballet has raised around £500,000. Separate from that it managed to nearly double the amount of money it raises from philanthropic sources to around £650,000.
Obviously that is good and music to the ears of culture secretary Maria Miller but Skipper doubts that they would be able to pull that off a second time.Obviously that is good and music to the ears of culture secretary Maria Miller but Skipper doubts that they would be able to pull that off a second time.
"I think a lot of the trusts and foundations supported things that under normal circumstances they would not have supported. They were sympathetic to the huge impact of the cuts, particularly to a regional company but to have that good will again would be a huge challenge.""I think a lot of the trusts and foundations supported things that under normal circumstances they would not have supported. They were sympathetic to the huge impact of the cuts, particularly to a regional company but to have that good will again would be a huge challenge."
Skipper does not expect the arts council to impose across the board cuts next time and the company will be applying for more money, not less.Skipper does not expect the arts council to impose across the board cuts next time and the company will be applying for more money, not less.
That reflects the ambitions of a company that began as a small classical ballet company in Manchester in 1969. It moved to Halifax for six years in 1990 and then Leeds, based in a former school building – now condemned – until it moved in to its new headquarters, which it shares with contemporary dance company Phoenix, in 2010.That reflects the ambitions of a company that began as a small classical ballet company in Manchester in 1969. It moved to Halifax for six years in 1990 and then Leeds, based in a former school building – now condemned – until it moved in to its new headquarters, which it shares with contemporary dance company Phoenix, in 2010.
Northern Ballet tours far more than other companies with the main tour – most recently the very successful The Great Gatsby – going to about 15 cities. Then there are shorter ballets for children going to places from Hexham to Huddersfield. "There's no point in sitting in your rehearsal rooms or staying in one city. Our job is to get out there and reach people who don't have the opportunity to see high quality narrative dance anywhere else."Northern Ballet tours far more than other companies with the main tour – most recently the very successful The Great Gatsby – going to about 15 cities. Then there are shorter ballets for children going to places from Hexham to Huddersfield. "There's no point in sitting in your rehearsal rooms or staying in one city. Our job is to get out there and reach people who don't have the opportunity to see high quality narrative dance anywhere else."
The company will also be watching nervously at what effect the 10% cut to local authority budgets might have on arts funding. Northern Ballet is less reliant than some but nevertheless receives around £250,000 from Leeds city council.The company will also be watching nervously at what effect the 10% cut to local authority budgets might have on arts funding. Northern Ballet is less reliant than some but nevertheless receives around £250,000 from Leeds city council.
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