Angus Council Ripping The Heart Out Of Local Arts

GMB Warns Angus Council Cuts Imposition Could Rip The Heart Out Of Local Arts

We are calling on Angus Council to think again as they are in serious danger of ripping the heart out of local arts says GMB Scotland

GMB Scotland has warned Angus Council against ‘ripping the heart out of local arts’ following its decision to review the posts of five museum and gallery staff, despite a full calendar of events booked for 2017.

Senior management at the council’s trust, Angus Alive, have started a consultation process and have told the staff affected to expect a decision on their futures by December after the council imposed a budget cut of £36,000 - reneging on its originally agreed cut of £14,000.

The five staff, with over eighty years of experience in design and exhibition between them, have been pivotal in the growth of the arts in the Angus area, particularly at Forfar’s Meffan Institute which has gained a fine reputation in the arts community and houses local medieval artefacts.

GMB Organiser Helen Meldrum said “It makes no sense to impose these cuts when the trust has a full year of exhibitions confirmed and will require the expertise of the staff to ensure its success.

We’ve been told by Angus Alive that the £14,000 figure is a legacy cut agreed prior to the trust taking responsibility for local culture, sport and leisure services but no can give us any answers on why that amount has now more than doubled.

Our members care deeply about their work and the reputation of the arts in Angus; they have delivered an incredible public service of national renown for next to nothing but now the council are in danger of unravelling this for a relatively meagre saving.

GMB Scotland is calling on Angus Council to think again as they are in serious danger of ripping the heart out of local arts.”

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Contact: GMB Scotland Organiser Helen Meldrum on 07958 156838 or Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications, on 07976 447077.