A POWERFUL new agency which will scrutinise the running of theatres,
museums and art galleries to prevent them squandering taxpayers'
money will be announced by the Government today.
As part of a shake-up of cultural institutions, Chris Smith, the
Culture Secretary, will unveil plans for a watchdog to oversee
activities of the funding bodies linked to his department. These
include the Arts Council, the Museum and Galleries Commission, the
Sports Council and English Heritage.
The "super-quango" will also have the power to monitor individual
cultural organisations to make sure that they are spending money
efficiently. It is understood that the Royal Opera House and the
Victoria and Albert Museum are top of the "hit list" for
investigation. The announcement of a cultural watchdog with a "licence
to meddle" is a clear admission that the existing funding bodies are
not working properly. The Government is determined to avoid a repeat
of the scandal at the Royal Opera House, whose entire board was made
to resign after a report criticising its inefficiency.
It will infuriate both the old-fashioned arts establishment and the
Labour "luvvies" who have accused the Government of abandoning the
nation's cultural heritage. Gerry Robinson, the newly-appointed
chairman of the Arts Council, is likely to be particularly annoyed
that the new organisation will have the power to overrule his
decisions.
The watchdog will be able to demand to see the accounts of any groups
funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It will
identify failing organisations and produce targets to improve
efficiency.
Documents setting out best practice in each industry will also be
circulated, with the aim of cutting red tape and ensuring that as much
money as possible goes directly into productions and events.
Ministers want those institutions which they perceive as offering a
poor service to the public to improve. A senior Government source
said: "We will be giving substantial extra investment to the arts but
in return we expect that theatres and museums improve the efficiency
with which they use the money that's given to them."
The new body, which will operate from next April, will be funded from
the additional UKPounds:290 million allocated to the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport last week in the Government's spending
review. It will have an annual budget of UKPounds:500,000 and be
headed by a "heavyweight" figure from the worlds of the arts or
sport. A small group of civil servants will be appointed to work
full-time on setting it up. Potential candidates for the organisation
are being considered.
DENVER, July 13 (UPI) -- A Denver-area man has been arrested on
charges he climbed on top of a B-52 bomber and set it afire outside
the aviation museum at Lowry Air Force Base. Police say two
witnesses caught the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Page Penk,
who reportedly gathered more than 10,000 signatures on a petition
seeking a world ban on land mines in 1996. Firefighters say the
blaze left $250,000 dollars damage to the Korean War-era jet, which
is one of the first B-52s made. The plane -- now deactivated -- was
purchased in 1953 and on loan to the museum by the military. Wings
Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum manager Ron Newberg said the
damage estimate may be low because the aircraft is so old, and many
of its parts are irreplaceable. Denver Fire Department spokesman
Mike McNeill says witnesses spotted Penk standing on top of the jet,
pouring liquid on the fuselage. He jumped to the ground as the plane
burst into flames. The Denver Post says Penk circulated petition
calling for a global ban on land mines. Gov. Roy Romer was among
10,000 Coloradans who signed the petition.
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