JOHN LINKLATER explains why New Beginnings must be given a reprieve
when its fate is discussed by Glasgow City Council on Thursday.
ON Thursday the finance committee of Glasgow City Council will
consider a recommendation to refuse the #15,000 required to prepare two
major international seasons. The issue is complicated by political
in-fighting connected to the Third Eye Centre affair, but I want to make
one thing absolutely clear. Any move to force the winding up of New
Beginnings, and its two proposed seasons featuring Czechoslovakia in
1993 and the five Soviet Central Asian Republics in 1994, would be a
substantial loss to the development of theatre arts in Scotland.
This needs to be stressed because there is a misconception that New
Beginnings, formed as an independent agency in 1989 to bring the
enormously successful Soviet Arts in Glasgow season, is only a visual
arts issue. It also involves photography, film, video, literature,
music, publications, an educational programme and, not least, theatre.
Anyone who was privileged to see the 1989 Nekrosius productions of Uncle
Vanya and Pirosmani Pirosmani (presented by the internationally famous
Lithuanian State Theatre), the Moscow Pushkin Theatre Company's
adaptation of Chekhov's Ward No.6, the Tron Theatre collaboration in
Stephen Mulrine's translation of Cinzano with Roman Kozak as director,
and The Guiding Light by the Vilnius Children's Theatre, should be under
no illusion of the kind of exposure to quality theatre we stand to lose
in Thursday's committee decision.
Last week in this newspaper Clare Henry made a strong appeal for a New
Beginnings reprieve, and I support her totally. She argued that Glasgow
City Council's commitment to New Beginnings would be imperative to a
credible submission for the Arts 2000 nomination as Capital of the
Visual Arts 1996. There can be no doubt that planning from 1987 onwards
for the Soviet Arts in Glasgow, and the earlier 1985 Hungarian and 1988
Polish seasons, played significant parts in raising the profile of
Glasgow as a worthy recipient of the 1990 European City of Culture
status. The Points East conference, in December 1990, was a unique
platform for the exchange of ideas among artists and administrators from
nine countries, and its influence will continue to be measured with the
publication of the proceedings this week.
Since Clare Henry wrote, urging support from readers for New
Beginnings to be sent to City Treasurer, Councillor Jean McFadden,
copies of two letters have reached my desk. They illustrate the high
international standing achieved by New Beginnings and the outstanding
value attached to it in cultural exchange.
Writing to Councillor McFadden last week, the Ambassador of the Czech
and Slovak Federal Republic, Dr Karel Duda, expressed ''high esteem''
for New Beginnings and its agency in the free exchange of ideas on art
and life among Europeans. He continued: ''Contacts they make through
events organised by New Beginnings form a necessary and promising
network of long-lasting co-operation which is so needed in Europe after
many years of imposed isolation. For many Czech and Slovak artists and
cultural activists it has been the first opportunity for such
contacts.'' Substantial funds have been earmarked by the Czech and
Slovak Ministries of Culture to support the proposed season.
From the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Nick Elam, head of the
cultural relations department, wrote to Chris Carrell, managing director
of New Beginnings. Referring to the previous Hungarian, Polish and
Soviet festivals, and to the proposed Czech and Slovak season, he wrote:
''We in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have a very high regard for
the record of achievement represented by these festivals. We believe
this has given your organisation -- and Glasgow -- a unique position in
East/West relations in the UK.'' Having earmarked #10,000 from the
current annual FCO budget, intended to match Glasgow City Council
funding for the development of the two proposed international seasons,
Mr Elam will be in Glasgow to monitor the decision of the city council's
finance committee. The Foreign Office will pull out if the #15,000 is
not put up, and further support from the British Council and the Arts
Council of Great Britain will be withdrawn.
The #15,000 represents a contribution towards the cost of the
necessary research and development to assemble a big programme across
the arts. Theatre is just one element, but there is no such thing as
isolation in the development of any arts form. You would have to be
blind and deaf to be unaware of the growing presence of the visual arts
and music in theatre today. Planned for the Czech and Slovak season is a
co-production in translation between the Tron Theatre and the Paragon
Ensemble of a chamber opera, She is She, by the leading Czech composer
Ivana Ludova. It would involve a Czech designer, opera singers, and
would be directed by Michael Boyd. Outside of the structure of a Czech
season such a collaboration, budgeted at #120,000, would stand only a
marginal chance of ever reaching production.
The final cost of the two international seasons is unclear, but
Glasgow City Council would have no fiscal obligation beyond the initial
#15,000 and could withdraw at any stage. It has been advised that the
original estimate of #60,000 for the Czech and Slovak season will be
reduced because of alternative funding from other agencies. The season
was planned for next year, but it has now been pulled back to 1993
pending the city council's decision. The Soviet Central Asian Republics
season, now planned for 1994, was planned with a notional budget of
#325,000, but the management team of New Beginnings is ready to scale
down to whatever budget is made available.
These seasons do not represent prestigious showcases which are certain
to flop financially. The turnover of the Soviet season was around #1m,
with over 500 Soviet participants and attracting almost 170,000 in
attendances and box-office. The cost to Glasgow City Council was
#173,000. Its contribution of #45,000 to the Points East season
represented just under 35% of the total income. When the council is
prepared to shell-out #100,000 on as meretricious a diversion as a
one-off West Side Story, a production which contributes nothing to the
future development of theatre as an art, the importance of the #15,000
decision on Thursday is put into stark perspective. If Glasgow is
serious about its previous investments in raising its international
profile within the arts world it cannot afford to duck this one.
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