Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood has been exploring ways of safeguarding a Rhondda theatre threatened with closure.
The AM for South Wales Central made representations about Cwmparc’s Parc Hall theatre to Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones during questions in the Senedd this week.
The community facility, which a Meithrin, after-school clubs and adult education programmes as well as putting on music gigs, is running on a skeleton staff after making four workers redundant due to falling attendances.
The theatre has reached the end of its Big Lottery funding and so it may have to close in the spring if no alternative source of income is found.
During her questioning, Ms Wood also mentioned the Spectacle theatre which is based at Coleg Morgannwg in Pontypridd because it recently had its funding cut by the Arts Council of Wales.
She said: “I would be grateful if you could offer any assistance to theatres such as Parc Hall to ensure that they can survive these difficult times to provide venues for future generations.”
She added: “I…ask that when you make representations to the Arts Council you argue the case in general to ensure that there are grassroots theatre companies operating, particularly in areas of high deprivation where there are limited or no other alternatives.
“I would also be grateful if you would be prepared to ask the Arts Council about the criteria that it used to make these decisions, so that you, and we as Assembly Members, can be satisfied that the funding decisions that it makes are fair and transparent.”
In reply, Mr Jones said: “Venues are important in our communities, but we have to acknowledge that with a static or, indeed, a contracting budget, it is impossible to continue to fund every organisation as we have done over the years.
“That is a fact of life, unless more money can be found. I know that the Arts Council is very mindful of the consequences of the review for these companies, and I expect to see it bring forward proposals in the coming months via its board to address areas where provision is lacking.”
