Prof. Christopher Baugh - University of Leeds

Dear Richard,

I was appalled and saddened to hear the news that your revenue funding is under serious threat. Clearly, the proposed alternative of being a strong contender to receive project funding is shallow comfort and obviously less that satisfactory. The stability and the longevity of CPR is one of its significant strengths and, of course, being reduced to 'hopping' from project to project would remove the ability that you have to grow and build (for example the Pastmasters conferences, Giving Voice and many other ongoing initiatives).

I find it hard to stand back and conceive of an artistic and scholarly environment without CPR. It is, of course, the only institute of its kind in the UK. But further, as attendance at, and contribution to, your conferences and workshops testifies, CPR is a global player of vast importance and significance. What I find remarkable is the ability of CPR to maintain this international position whilst at the same time having such a detailed additional commitment to a very local Welsh agenda.

I do hope that this current uncertainty will be short-lived and that your energies may be rightfully returned to where they belong - the health and further development of CPR.

Best wishes,

Chris

Christopher Baugh FRSA
Professor of Performance & Technology,
School of Performance and Cultural Industries, University of Leeds, Leeds