Mayor Andy Burnham has raised the possibility of giving a culture grant to Oldham Coliseum on his weekly radio phone-in show, broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester.
However, the Mayor made clear that any Greater Manchester funding for the theatre would only be enough to provide support alongside a larger main funding source, such as from the Arts Council.
Caller Walter, from Bury, asked the mayor about the future of the Coliseum, given news that all shows scheduled from Sunday, March 26 will be cancelled.
ALSO READ: Oldham Coliseum cancels all shows, plus panto, after funding loss.
Responding, Mayor Andy Burnham said: “It’s a really sad story isn’t it, the theatre, I think, has way over 100 years of history – I think there’s been some massive names that have trod the boards at the Oldham Coliseum.
“This isn’t the levelling up funding, but Arts Council funding, and a decision was taken last year to cut Oldham Coliseum out of that funding portfolio, and these are the consequences now of that decision. It’s not strictly levelling up funding from the Government’s point of view, but it is a levelling up issue, isn’t it?
“If you take venues like that out of northern towns, you take the heartbeat out of them.”
Presenter Mike Sweeney intervened – noting that the Arts Council had said areas outside of London would be prioritised for funding.
ALSO READ: Coronation Street stars back Save Oldham Coliseum campaign.
The Mayor continued: “Well, they say that but I think what’s happening is they’ve got a reduced pot and some are benefitting from that and some are not, and Oldham Coliseum is not.
“Oldham Council, though, are committing to a theatre in Oldham – they don’t run the Coliseum, so it’s a difficult position.”
Presenter Mike Sweeney pressed Burnham, asking if the Mayor’s office or the Greater Manchester Combined Authority gives out any culture funding.
The Mayor responded: “We do give out culture grants – we’re one of the city regions that spends most on culture, because we know it brings life to places like Oldham, that’s why we do it.
“Obviously we would support any organisation in Greater Manchester that needs help, but our funding would never be the mainstay, the Arts Council are the national organisation – ours would be supporting funding.”
ALSO READ: Oldham Coliseum: Readers share what theatre means to them.
Sweeney then presented an alternative view – asking if it is appropriate to give public money to a theatre that could not support itself.
Sweeney added: “You wouldn’t get Arts Council funding for a club that had bands on; if it didn’t make enough money, it would close.”
The Mayor responded: “There is that. Obviously, all organisations involved in music or the arts have to have good enough things on to bring people through the door, but I think there’s just a really difficult and sad situation here, a theatre with massive history.
“I think what we’ve got to commit to is ensuring that Oldham has a theatre; the bottom line is that, as far as I’m concerned.
“A generation growing up in Oldham needs the chance to put their talent on a stage and to be able to get the experience of doing that, and I know Oldham Council’s leader Amanda Chadderton feels that very strongly as well, even though Oldham Coliseum is clearly not directly under their control.”
ALSO READ: Oldham leaders 'devastated' by Coliseum Theatre news.
The full episode of Andy Burnham in the Hotseat can be watched with video on Facebook or audio can be streamed on BBC Sounds.
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