Janet B. Rodgers - Past President of The Voice and Speech Trainers Association

Letter regarding the Arts Council of Wales' decision to cut funding the the Centre for Performance Research


I am writing this letter in response to the decision of the Arts Council of Wales to cut funding to the Centre for Performance Research in Aberystwyth. First off I have to say that I am shocked by the Council's decision. CPR has raised the awareness of Performance Research around the world. In the USA, the collaboration of CPR and the Aberystwyth University has raised the reputation of the program to be known as one of the very the best in the world. It is only because of the research that is being done by both organizations that this reputation has grown to what it is today.

My first contact with CPR came through The Giving Voice Festival. As the president of The Voice and Speech Trainers Association, an international organization based in the USA, I attended my first Giving Voice Festival in the spring of 1999. I had been told previously by my voice and speech colleagues in America that this was one of the most important events of its kind in the world. I was not disappointed. The workshops were of the highest calibre. The afternoon lectures/demonstrations opened my eyes to work that was taking place in Wales, England, Korea, Russia, Canada, Australia and elsewhere. This small seaside town of Aberystwyth was filled with theatre artists, singers and other professional voice users who had assembled to exchange ideas and to recharge their batteries, reminding each other of the value of everyone's work the world over. Where else in the world does this kind of meeting take place?

Since attending The Giving Voice Festival, I have continued to purchase books that are available only through CPR. Also, as the result of my experience in 1999, I have continued to bring students to Great Britain to work with Frankie Armstrong and am currently collaborating with Frankie Armstrong on a book dealing with 'Acting with Archetypes' which came out of my attending Frankie's workshop in Wales at the Giving Voice Festiva in 1999. This year at the Giving Voice Festival, Frankie and I will be co-teaching a workshop that is the result of our continued collaboration. The birth of this collaboration happened in Aberystwyth.

In these times of electronic globalization, the real moments of contact are those that happen face to face. The work of CPR and The Giving Voice Festival are invaluable for this very reason. It is a tragedy that such an important and valuable organization would be denied consistent funding by the ACW at this important juncture in time. It makes no sense in the long term. I hope that you will reconsider your decision.

All the best,



Janet B. Rodgers
Past President of The Voice and Speech Trainers Association
Head of Performance/Voice and Speech Training
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
U.S.A.