Colchester Council faces damaging financial cuts of 7.1 per cent per year, giving a total reduction of 28.4 per cent after four years.
Similarly, the Arts Council faces a total cut of 29.6 per cent.
Surely, this is the opportunity for Colchester Council to renegotiate the Visual Arts Facility grant conditions with the Arts Council.
Clearly, the days of squandering public money on the failed Vaf and unpopular Firstsite arts group must be over.
A total of £6.4million of public money could be saved now by abandoning the obscenely expensive interior fit-out.
Also, does Colchester Council really need to buy the old police station in Queen Street for art projects?
With Firstsite closed down, it will have to find a viable use for the Firstsite shop in Eld Lane and 15 Queen Street.
Andy Hamilton
Acland Avenue
Colchester
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