Funding Guarantee For Welsh Chamber Orchestra Pulled

The Welsh Chamber Orchestra is accusing the Arts Council for Wales of reneging on a pledge to extend the ensemble’s support funding through 2006. Instead of the WCO receiving its £52,500 with no questions asked, the group will now have to compete with six other ensembles for the money, potentially putting its 2005-06 season in jeopardy. For its part, the government says that no guarantees were ever given about the ’05 funding, even though the Culture Minister called a press conference last year to announce that the WCO funding would continue through 2006.