Dominique Fester - Performer and teacher, Cardiff

Dear Judie,

Letter of Support

It was with some dismay that I heard the news about the funding cuts to CPR. It is three years since since CPR provided me with the opportunity to obtain free, high quality training in Arts Management. An opportunity that was unique, and had not been a financial possibility during my previous five years in London. The CPR Internship program ensures that underprivileged individuals with a keen interest in learning about Arts Management can access high quality training.

Away from my personal experience is CPR’s contribution to the area it is located in. CPR’s program of high-quality and innovative programs, festivals workshops and symposiums, feeds locally based performers and artists with the excellent opportunities they deserve, and so rarely get with the tendency for many large art institutions to be in ‘South Walian’ cities.

Drawing back further is the massive impact CPR has had internationally. CPR’s activities effectively provide artistic retreats where people can focus and develop their practice with others on a large scale in temporary communities. Set against the backdrop of the small but lively town of Aberystwyth and reams of Welsh Countryside, it is a totally unique experience, reflected in the vast numbers of people locally, nationally and internationally who regularly come to take part/perform at CPR events. It is also in evidence in the creative explosion of it’s own expansion over the last thirteen years as projects have grown out of projects and in the publishing company and Bookshop which represents the process of constant evaluation consolidating the creative work.

Without funding there is a threat that all the projects that CPR now manages will perish and with that, the untold loss of the creativity which will not be able to happen in the future. CPR must and should be able to maintain their position as key fosterer and champion of the arts in the heart of the country.

Yours sincerely

Dominique Fester,
Performance Practitioner, teacher - Cardiff