The British stars join forces to protest against government cuts to arts funding in Britain, claiming the reductions are 'the biggest threat' against arts and culture in Britain.
- March 14, 2011
AceShowbiz - Screen stars including Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen and Julie Walters have joined forces to protest against government cuts to arts funding in Britain. Kenneth Branagh, Sheila Hancock, David Tennant and director Mike Leigh are also among the names who have signed a letter, published in U.K. newspaper The Observer, declaring arts and culture in Britain are facing "the biggest threat" in decades.
It comes after officials last year 2010 wound down the U.K. Film Council, which has funded movies including the Oscar-winning "The King's Speech", as part of a range of cost-cutting measures.
"Before the last election the Government promised to usher in a 'golden age' for the arts. The reality couldn't be further from this," the letter, organized by the actors' union Equity, states.
"With the reductions announced in last year's comprehensive spending review, the withdrawal of huge amounts of local authority support, the abolition of the U.K. Film Council and the financial pressures faced by the Arts Councils and the BBC, we are currently facing the biggest threat to funding the arts and culture have experienced in decades."
"If we are serious about rebuilding our economy, culture cannot and should not be an easy target for cuts."
"That's where tomorrow's hit shows will come from and where the stars of the future learn the trade we have become world famous for," "Harry Potter" star Walters, who is also calling for government chiefs to protect local arts organizations and community theater, added. "Cutting of funding at a local level deprives a community of its cultural focus and future audiences from a generation of talent."
