Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 9

18 November 2004

Funding for Solent Peoples Theatre

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Michael Fuller Ext: 6016

1. Introduction

1.1 A proposal has been received from Solent Peoples Theatre following a successful pilot year of experimentation. The Company now submitted a three year plan to use theatre to re-enliven local democracy in the region.

2. Critical Engagement: Theatre for Democracy

2.1 The new plan from Solent Peoples Theatre aims to encourage active participation in democratic processes by engaging the people of the Solent sub region in critical dialogue about the following.

· local, regional and national issues

· developments in science, medicine and technology

· the mechanisms of democracy

by using theatre and related participatory activities in a wide variety of community contexts that attempt to do the following.

· provoke/debate

· demystify the processes and institutions of democracy

· bridge the divide between local politics and the realities of everyday life.

2.2 The target audience is adults of voting age and, whilst some of the projects will be contributing to school/college based citizenship education, the Company is very aware of the number of schemes and initiatives already targeted at this age group by other organisations.

2.3 Whilst each project within the umbrella will be slightly different each will be characterised by a number of common elements. The programme will be going to different spaces so as to engage with the largest numbers of people across the sub region.

2.4 The elements of the programme include performances of the Handmaid's Tale based on the book by Margaret Atwood and a second one of what is being called the Democracy Cabaret. These have been crafted to cover as wide a public as possible with a thoughtful play for some and a knockabout show for a noisier audience. The Company's budget shows an income of £169,877 and expenditure of £199,877 showing the £30,000 deficit requested.

3. Financial Implications

3.1 The funding for this award is being found from the Policy Fund with £10,000 coming from the current year's budget and the rest from that for 2005/06.

5. Legal Implications

5.1 The County Council is able to utilise broad powers under the Local Government Act 1972 to provide financial support for the arts. In particular, Section 145 of the Act enables the Council to contribute towards the expenses of doing anything necessary or expedient for any of a number of purposes, including the provision of entertainment of any nature, or the provision of a theatre, concert hall, dance hall or other premises suitable for entertainment. The powers include the ability to contribute towards the expenses of maintaining a band or orchestra and towards the development and improvement of the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts.

6. The Views of the Local Members

6.1 No local members were considered appropriate to consult on this wide ranging programme.

7. Hampshire County Council's Corporate Strategy

7.1 The proposal addresses the desire within the Corporate Strategy to build strong and safe communities by getting people to engage with the ways in which communities decide their futures at the ballot box.

Recommendation

That the £30,000 of funding be agreed to be paid to Solent Peoples Theatre. This award will be made in two parts; £10,000 immediately and £20,000 in April 2004.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

N.B. the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE LOCATION

Project Proposal from Solent Peoples Theatre Arts Office file