German demands answers on politicisation of the arts in Wales

12.00.00am GMT Wed 11th Jan 2006

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German is demanding answers about why the government is taking over funding of the large scale arts organisations in Wales.

Mr German has submitted a request under freedom of information legislation for all correspondence between the Assembly Government and the "Big Six" arts organisations. He has sent a similar letter to the Arts Council for Wales.

"Yesterday in the Assembly, the Minister refused to answer why he had taken the decision to fund the 'Big Six' directly. He could not tell us what problem he was seeking to solve.

"We are seeking this information to find out if he has explained to the organisations involved what he is doing. It is not clear at this stage whether he knows what he is doing, or why.

"Politicisation of the arts is a hugely important issue. We must get to the bottom of this."