“"I'm afraid the steering group resignations do come across as childish and petulant."

Would you work with people who said one thing to your face, and then did the opposite?”

“You don't have to agree with 'the cuts' to think that there are sometimes better, more imaginative ways of doing things which place less of a burden on the public purse. Just as in the same way, when public money was plentiful, it didn't necessarily mean every recipient was really deserving of it.

But there is an economic reality which means that at the same time as opposing funding reductions it is surely common sense to look for different ways of working, rather than a reaction akin to "If I can't have a grant, I'm not playing anymore." People who are genuinely committed to having a Year of Culture in Derby would surely want to see it succeed with or without public funding - especially if they are people of 'vision' as they so often like to tell us. So in that respect, I'm afraid the steering group resignations do come across as childish and petulant.”

“No, LongGoneSon, Keith Jeffrey is not a highly-paid, spoilt brat. His wage is considerably lower than that of a Chief Executive in the commercial sector and he is a hard-working, passionate advocate of the positive social, financial and artistic impact of the arts in Derby.

Yes, Arts Council England announced an increase to its funding to QUAD over the next few years, but the proposed decrease of funding by Derby City Council is disproportionate. If the city council's proposal becomes a reality, then it will cut its grant of just over £300k this financial year to just over £30k in the 2014-15 financial year.

The cuts from the council would make QUAD "a more efficient and well-run entity", would it? Why is it not efficient at the moment and in what ways is it run badly? Generating £6.60 from every £1 from city council funding and putting it back into the local economy seems more than efficient and well-run.

Efficiency and running things well are not the key issues here. The key issues are the negative social, financial and artistic impact that the cuts will have, not just to QUAD but to Deda and Derby Theatre too. Plus the many artistic and community organisations that are receiving a 30% cut across the board. Plus the reduction of the arts team at the city council from five people to one person.

If anyone opposes the proposed cuts to the arts, then I would suggest joining the online campaign at https://http://tinyurl.com/69ojyfd to find out how to make a difference with positive action. Let's outweigh the negativity and name-calling. Also, please keep on sharing your positive stories about the arts on here. Thank you for taking the time to read this message.”

“No, LongGoneSon, Keith Jeffrey is not a spoilt brat. His wage is considerably lower than that of a Chief Executive in the commercial sector and he is a hard-working, passionate advocate of the positive social, financial and artistic impact of the arts in Derby.

Yes, Arts Council England announced an increase to its funding to QUAD over the next few years, but the decrease of proposed funding by Derby City Council is disproportionate. If the city council's proposal becomes a reality, then it will cut its grant of just over £300k this financial year to just over £30k in the 2014-15 financial year.

The cuts from the council would make QUAD "a more efficient and well-run entity", would it? Why is it not efficient at the moment and in what ways is it run badly? Generating £6.60 from every £1 from city council funding and putting it back into the local economy seems more than efficient and well-run.

Efficiency and running things well are not the key issues here. The key issues are the negative social, financial and artistic impact that the cuts will have, not just to QUAD but to Deda and Derby Theatre too. Plus the many artistic and community organisations that are receiving a 30% cut across the board. Plus the reduction of the arts team at the city council from five people to one person.

If anyone opposes the proposed cuts to the arts, then I would suggest joining the online campaign at https://http://tinyurl.com/69ojyfd to find out how to make a difference with positive action. Let's outweigh the negativity and name-calling. Also, please keep on sharing your positive stories about the arts on here. Thank you for taking the time to read this message.”

“The figures from the Arts people dont add up. They are claiming this council cut plus 30% cut nationally from the Arts Council.

There has been around a 26% cut from the Arts Council. However, The Quad got an increase from the Arts Council of 3%, and DEDA got a cut of 10%(?) not sure what S VIVA got.

Jeffrey spitting out his dummy is the action of a highly paid spoilt brat.

The "donation" nonsense at Feste where nobody could find somewhere to donate was a feckless joke. Perhaps the cuts in funding will make the QUAD and others a more efficient and well run entity.”

“We can live without care homes - look after your elderly relatives in your own home. We can live without free healthcare - hope that you've got enough money to pay for private healthcare or astronomical insurance if you can afford it. We can live without street cleaners, emergency services, a youth service, subsidised public transport, free education, libraries, parks, mended roads...jobs. Can you live without pubs (many are subsidised by the council with cheap business rates and couldn't survive without them), nightlife, TV? Do you want to?

The point is we shouldn't have to live without any of these things, they are part of our society and our culture. We shouldn't live in a society where the arts are seen as a luxury. They are a vital, intrinsic part of our lives as much as schools, healthcare etc. They support and balance communities, they are a fundamental outlet for our creativity. QUAD, Deda and Derby Theatre all add to the rich culture that exists in Derby. Feste supported and paid for many local musicians and performers to entertain the masses. So Feste WERE working with local talent to put on crowd pleasing events (for free)And you didn't need to go to a pub to enjoy them, it was on the street for everybody to enjoy.


Hats off to everybody who invests time, energy and resources to provide entertainment to everybody in the city, free or paid for. But if there isn't the investment in people to earn money to buy tickets to crowd pleasing events, then the city's cultural output dies. Just because these events arn't organised in someone's spare time doesn't make it any less valid. This should be a country where everybody's interests and creativity is supported and I'm proud that it is. That means an outlet for events that arn't always crowd pleasing, exhibitions that are challenging and jobs for people who want to work in the arts and culture.


What people seem to be missing is we should be fighting for ALL the essential services not picking and choosing between the ones that seem important and those that people feel they can dismiss. Just because I've been to QUAD's cinema and Deda's performances more than I've been to hospital in the past ten years, doesn't mean I feel that it's ok to loose the healthcare system over entertainment that currently I access more.

Rather than sniping at the council (who've had massive budget reductions from central government because of the banking crisis, which was made without our consent and now despite taxpayers having a majority share in three major banks in this country where's our bonus?) get up and fight for the unnecessary cuts that are being made all over the country which are seriously affecting our quality of life and will continue to do so for the forseeable future unless we do something about it now.”

“Derby could do much worse than look at the example of Leicester Comedy Festival. Events - some free, some ticketed - take place in 50+ different venues and last year attracted more than 60,000 people. The festival has just signed a sponsorship deal with the TV channel Dave. Its website allows people to make donations online throughout the year. Although it receives some public money, it is far less than what is supposedly needed for Derby.

If Derby is serious about having a Year of Culture, then this is pretty close to the model it should follow.”

“The arts organisations are making a big song and dance (no pun intended) about this. Whilst I have some sympathy with them (I think QUAD is superb), none of the people facing the cuts seem to have offered any worthwhile alternative suggestions to save money. If the arts organisations continue to be funded at their present levels, then that means that the City Council has to cut more of its other services and make more of its staff redundant. They are already committed to making another 500 redundant, to add to the 400+ from last year.”

“Andrew_ilson

You are the voice of the arrogant and patronising. Congratulations.

As someone who's been involved in the local music and arts promotions scene for many years - including going through tortuous grant applucations processes - I'd rather be happy in my 'ignorance'.

If you read my post carefully (or get someone to read it to you) you would find that I suggest raising money through popular, audience-attracting events to reinvest into new and developing talent.

Quad exhibitions may be 'free' (if 'free' means 'paid for with money you have already given to the council and Government') , but it also stages plenty of events which aren't - including some which are quite expensive. Drinks certainly aren't subsidised.

And don't pretend that only public money makes free entertainment available.

I put a music event on last weekend, in a local pub. An unsigned band. It was free. About 40-50 people turned up to watch. It was paid for out of revenue generated in other areas, such as refreshments and a couple of blackout cards.

On Friday night I went to a pub beer festival, which featured three bands. Admission was free. Presumably the bands were paid out of beer sales, or commercial sponsorship.

I would love to see a published breakdown of how the money was spent on Feste, including how much went on the infamous 'administration'.”

“The arts are not a luxury. They are a necessity to people's wellbeing. It's worth mentioning here that the cuts to the arts are CUTS, i.e. they are savings; the money cut to the arts will not be redirected elsewhere to other equally as important services such as care homes.”