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Judi Dench defends drama school in row over advertising boards Judi Dench defends drama school in row over advertising boards
(4 months later)
Dame Judi Dench has come to the defence of the drama school where she learned her Oscar-winning craft.Dame Judi Dench has come to the defence of the drama school where she learned her Oscar-winning craft.
The London borough of Camden has banned two advertising hoardings outside the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama on supposedly aesthetic grounds.The London borough of Camden has banned two advertising hoardings outside the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama on supposedly aesthetic grounds.
The Central says that it receives up to £150,000 a year from advertisers using the sites, which it donates to theatre charities involving thousands of young people nationwide, and that there have been no complaints since they went up 27 years ago. An appeal to the secretary of state will be heard on Tuesday.The Central says that it receives up to £150,000 a year from advertisers using the sites, which it donates to theatre charities involving thousands of young people nationwide, and that there have been no complaints since they went up 27 years ago. An appeal to the secretary of state will be heard on Tuesday.
Dench, widely regarded as the finest actress of her generation, has written a passionate letter to the council in which she expresses dismay at the removal of "a vital source of revenue" to theatre and arts education.Dench, widely regarded as the finest actress of her generation, has written a passionate letter to the council in which she expresses dismay at the removal of "a vital source of revenue" to theatre and arts education.
Noting that Camden itself has withdrawn funding from various arts and social programmes, she writes: "To penalise this independent goodwill at such a time of recessionary hardship seems misguided."Noting that Camden itself has withdrawn funding from various arts and social programmes, she writes: "To penalise this independent goodwill at such a time of recessionary hardship seems misguided."
She refers to "the considerable benefit" from the hoardings, singling out £50,000 given annually to the Shakespeare Schools Festival, which reaches 1,000 schools across Britain and involves 50,000 children – "many from deprived areas," including Camden. The hoardings have also provided funds for disadvantaged youths involved with the Roundhouse and a "black theatre" summer school.She refers to "the considerable benefit" from the hoardings, singling out £50,000 given annually to the Shakespeare Schools Festival, which reaches 1,000 schools across Britain and involves 50,000 children – "many from deprived areas," including Camden. The hoardings have also provided funds for disadvantaged youths involved with the Roundhouse and a "black theatre" summer school.
The Central, in north-west London, is one of the UK's most prestigious drama schools. Its alumni include Laurence Olivier, Vanessa Redgrave and Peggy Ashcroft. The hoardings also fund bursaries for future Oliviers.The Central, in north-west London, is one of the UK's most prestigious drama schools. Its alumni include Laurence Olivier, Vanessa Redgrave and Peggy Ashcroft. The hoardings also fund bursaries for future Oliviers.
Dench's letter mentions her family's long association with the Central, "one of the finest centres of drama training and research in the UK". She and family members, including her daughter, live in the area or are studying there. "Therefore," she says, "I feel that I can also comment on grounds of planning and local aesthetic value." Calling for Camden "to reconsider its action", she adds: "The alternative will diminish the borough's effectiveness as a centre for the arts, and narrow the scope for its young people to participate in the theatre."Dench's letter mentions her family's long association with the Central, "one of the finest centres of drama training and research in the UK". She and family members, including her daughter, live in the area or are studying there. "Therefore," she says, "I feel that I can also comment on grounds of planning and local aesthetic value." Calling for Camden "to reconsider its action", she adds: "The alternative will diminish the borough's effectiveness as a centre for the arts, and narrow the scope for its young people to participate in the theatre."
Professor Gavin Henderson, the school's principal, said that the money from the hoardings was crucial. It helped to support the neighbouring Hampstead theatre's educational programmes after the council withdrew funding: "Camden council has … cut back on all their arts funding to a point where it's virtually nonexistent. But their planning department [has been] … looking at hoardings that they don't like aesthetically… [and] issued orders for these to come down."Professor Gavin Henderson, the school's principal, said that the money from the hoardings was crucial. It helped to support the neighbouring Hampstead theatre's educational programmes after the council withdrew funding: "Camden council has … cut back on all their arts funding to a point where it's virtually nonexistent. But their planning department [has been] … looking at hoardings that they don't like aesthetically… [and] issued orders for these to come down."
The two electronic hoardings are displayed against a nondescript modern building owned by the Central and overlook a busy traffic route. Henderson is all the more surprised by the aesthetic argument, because Camden's real eye-sores go unnoticed: "The council is quite happy to have hugely unsightly rubbish and recycling bins located immediately beneath these hoardings, with vermin running in and out. Rats. None of that registers at all and that's in their domain, not ours."The two electronic hoardings are displayed against a nondescript modern building owned by the Central and overlook a busy traffic route. Henderson is all the more surprised by the aesthetic argument, because Camden's real eye-sores go unnoticed: "The council is quite happy to have hugely unsightly rubbish and recycling bins located immediately beneath these hoardings, with vermin running in and out. Rats. None of that registers at all and that's in their domain, not ours."
Other objectors refer to Camden market, where the council permits "ugly" advertising eyesores to deface classic Victorian houses and shops.Other objectors refer to Camden market, where the council permits "ugly" advertising eyesores to deface classic Victorian houses and shops.
The Central has received further support from Dame Jenny Abramsky, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, former head of BBC Radio and a board member of the Shakespeare Schools Festival: "Government … is urging universities and arts organisations to do more to attract funding from the private sector in these times of grave economic restraint. These hoardings are an unusual and original example of a higher education and arts institution doing just that. They should be applauded."The Central has received further support from Dame Jenny Abramsky, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, former head of BBC Radio and a board member of the Shakespeare Schools Festival: "Government … is urging universities and arts organisations to do more to attract funding from the private sector in these times of grave economic restraint. These hoardings are an unusual and original example of a higher education and arts institution doing just that. They should be applauded."
Valerie Leach, Camden's cabinet member for planning, said: "Camden council is one of the biggest supporters in the country of our local voluntary sector. This delivers a range of arts projects. We have a duty … to protect … local areas from hoardings without any formal planning permission, such as this site."Valerie Leach, Camden's cabinet member for planning, said: "Camden council is one of the biggest supporters in the country of our local voluntary sector. This delivers a range of arts projects. We have a duty … to protect … local areas from hoardings without any formal planning permission, such as this site."
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