Watermans wins judicial review of Arts Council decision
(16 June 2008)

Watermans has won its case for a judicial review of the Arts Council decision to withdraw its £500,000 funding grant. Following the Court’s Notification, the Arts Council has now asked Watermans to withdraw its legal action in return for a new funding recommendation being taken to the Arts Council’s next London Regional Council Meeting. The matter is to be now settled out of court.

In a statement today, Karam Bhullar, Chair of Watermans, said: “This decision is a very positive result for Watermans. The Arts Council has since offered to settle the matter out of court. We welcome this approach which will allow us to focus our time and resources on our arts programme. At a time when Watermans is planning to play a significant role in the launch of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, we would not want these proceedings to cast a shadow over the programme for West London. Given the Judge’s positive comments about our case, we hope that the Arts Council will now reinstate Watermans’ funding without further delay.”

Watermans had submitted a claim for a judicial review of the Arts Council’s decision to withdraw its funding, in April 2008. The Arts Council submitted its defence. The Honourable Mr Justice Langstaff has reviewed the claim and as a result made an Order returning the matter to Court to deal with various issues. In the Notification Mr Justice Langstaff observed specifically that Watermans: “was told (by the Arts Council) of the rationale for the proposed decision (to withdraw its funding) so it could comment on it, and arguably having answered this found that the final decision had been taken on different grounds which it had no proper opportunity to address.”

Watermans has always maintained that this is an unfair process and a clear breach of public law.

ABOUT WATERMANS

Watermans is a popular multi-disciplinary arts centre in Brentford, West London. It was opened in 1984 and has received support from the Arts Council for over 15 years. Watermans’ Arts Council funding has supported Asian, New Media and Participative Arts. Watermans also attracts funding from Hounslow Council, London Councils, The Baring Foundation, the Department of Culture, Media & Sport, and the UK Film Council, among others. However, its’ main funding was, until 31 March 2008, from the Arts Council.

Over the last few months, Watermans has continued to provide a robust arts & participative programme. Full details can be found on www.watermans.org.uk