Arts Council of Wales in line to fund Wales Millennium Centre

The Arts Council Wales looks set to take over funding control of the Wales Millennium Centre from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The government was heavily criticised in a report by the Wales Audit Office last October for ignoring concerns about the running of the arts organisation in the lead up to the WMC’s £13.5 million bail out.

Welsh Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones has now accepted the recommendations of a further report that called on ministers to consider transferring funding and monitoring responsibilities for the WMC to the arts council.

Mr Jones said he would consult with the ACW and the venue before coming to a final decision.

He said the final outcome will also depend on the outcome of an independent review of the governance of the WMC.

The Assembly government provides an annual grant worth 25% of the WMC’s turnover. It has allocated £3.7 million in revenue funding from 2008-2011.

image courtesy of Starbuck Powersurge@flickr.com

Wales Theatre Company to close

The Wales Theatre Company is to close down in July, after the conclusion of its UK tour of its stage adaptation of Colleen McCullough’s novel The Thorn Birds.

The WTC was created six years ago to specialise in large-scale theatre projects in South Wales. During its operation it has produced 14 large-scale works both in English and Welsh.

Artistic director Michael Bogdanov announced that he came to the decision because of a lack funding from the Arts Council of Wales and the City of Swansea.

The WTC’s final performance will be The Thorn Birds at Wales Millennium Centre on 12th July 2009.

Welsh Production Company expands into new markets

One of Wales’ fastest growing production companies, Telesgop, has secured contracts worth nearly £2 million and plans to become one of the UK’s leading providers of internet TV.

The announcement coincides with the launch of Telesgop’s new headquarters in Swansea earlier this month.

Telesgop has won a number of new contracts including a new series for Discovery Channel and is working in partnership with the University of Wales to launch an internet TV channel for the University.

Managing Director Elin Rhys said that the company’s aim is to become a market leader in providing internet TV for corporate clients.

Telesgop has already produced work for S4C, BBC, Discovery US and Animal Planet.

Image courtesy of kalleboo@flickr.com