With another low turnout, the AGM saw the Chairman, the Treasurer and the Secretary step down from their positions. This had been on the cards since last year's AGM and was no surprise to those of us who go to the meetings. Andrew has been Chairman for 5 years now and has done a fine job under difficult circumstances.
The borough council's removing the LAC's grant giving capability signalled the end for the arts council as we know it. However, due to Andrew's hard work and enthusiasm it kept going for several years but now he has neither the time or inclination to stay on. David and Linda's hard work also must be commended especially since they, along with Andrew, have felt that it is too much for them for some time now. At the Extraordinary meeting on 17th October no candidates for the jobs came forward and therefore the Arts Council decided not to wind up but to go to sleep for six months and see if another body emerges to take its place.
The Regional Drama Festival and the Short Story Competition will continue under independent organisations and the web site will be maintained.
It seems that some of the L.A.C's funds will be used to employ an independent consultant who will canvas views from member societies as to what sort of organisation they would like to follow the L.A.C. and how it could be set up to work. Hopefully the apathy that led to the Arts Council's near demise will be turned around and something will come of this.
If you believe that there is a place for an organisation like the Arts Council in Luton then please talk to the consultant and even, perhaps, be prepared to do something to establish a new order. If not, practitioners of the arts in Luton will have no unified voice and only themselves to blame when they think that they are not being listened to.