EADT Arts Coverage

DanceEast has been informed that the East Anglian Daily Times is to cut all arts coverage.

This comes as a shock. The arts are thriving in East Anglia like never before. The cultural industries are one of the few areas of growth nationwide and form a vital and integral part not only of the cultural life of this region but of its economy, for local people and for tourism.

As arts organisations and consumers, we all turn to the EADT for information and features about the Arts and Culture. This information is critical to arts organisations to communicate broadly to a cross section of the community and for consumers to make informed decisions about their leisure time activities and engagement with the arts. The removal of all cultural commentary, reviews and information is denying customers a whole sector of cultural news and reviews and making the paper a less attractive purchase.

We want to ensure that East Anglia continues to grow and develop and be an attractive place to live and work. This can only be achieved with a mixed economy of cultural offer for people of all ages and interests. Those who read the sports pages also read the arts and cultural sections of papers and vice versa, but at present, only one side of this equation is being completely cut. The EADT seems to be denying the vitality and vibrancy of the arts on its door step and denying its readers coverage of a vital cultural life that is so critical to the well being of society.

For the success, interest and development of the cultural scene within this region, organisations like us rely on the coverage and commentary that the EADT provides. For the future success of the EADT, we strongly urge this decision to be reconsidered. In tough economic times, the arts and cultural offer of our towns and cities is vital to ensuring that creativity and imagination remain at the heart of our lives. And, we can’t forget that the arts are always a win-win proposition with no winners or losers. We offer role models, challenges, escape, beauty, aspiration and ambition and our voice can’t be cut off by our vital partners who are the EADT.

If you would like to write to the East Anglian Daily Times regarding this please send your letter to:

Terry Hunt
Editor
East Anglian Daily Times
Lower Brook Street
Ipswich
IP1 1AN