Helen Mirren Warns Government Cuts Could Devastate Arts

Dame Helen Mirren and other stars of film, TV and stage, have issued a warning to the government that proposed cuts pose areal danger to arts in the UK. Dame Helen, along with David Tennant and many more, in a letter to The Observer, say:

"Culture cannot and should not be an easy target for cuts"

The coalition government believe that all sectors of society should be part of the cuts to public spending including the arts. Culture Secretary Jeremy HuntJeremy Hunt, said that the arts were getting off lightly compared to other public sector funding. He said that the police for instance were experiencing greater cuts.

The Arts Council England was told in October that it would receive cuts of up to 30%. On top of this many local councils have chosen to make savings by cutting local arts funding.

Mirren and other stars are angry in particular at the dissolving of the UK Film Council. The UK Film Council has been important in the making of many UK films including Oscar winning 'The King's Speech'

Other film stars adding their names to the letter of protest include, Simon CallowSimon Callow, Kenneth Branagh and Jeremy IronsJeremy Irons. The letter points to the fact that the government said that it wanted to support the arts but has now announced huge cuts. The letter says:

"We are currently facing the biggest threat to funding the arts and culture have experienced in decades."

Actors and performers are the latest group of British workers to come out against widespread cuts in public spending which they believe will cause many job losses not only in their own industry but across the country. Some are now predicting that widespread union action could lead to a general strike if the government do not now look again at the extent of the cuts that they propose.