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