Arts chief's resignation accepted

The Arts Council of Wales has announced that it has accepted the resignation of its chief executive Joanna Weston.

The resignation had been accepted "with regret", the council said on Friday.

But it said that in the face of recent criticism, it was important to regain the confidence of the arts community and other partners and Ms Weston's departure will allow it to make a new start.

In a statement the council said it noted Joanna Weston's "considerable achievements" with the organisation over the past six years both as lottery director and chief executive.

Ms Weston said she was saddened by the various criticisms, but that she thought it was right that she accepted full responsibility as chief executive.

Her union said she had been treated in a way which amounted to "constructive dismissal".

Criticism

The Association of First Division Civil Servants said the "appalling treatment" of Ms Weston had been "fuelled by internal rivalries".

Ms Weston had faced heavy criticism over decisions she made since her appointment as head of the council two years ago.

With other senior officers of the body, she withstood votes of no confidence from the staff and faced criticisms of the way a number of high profile decisions were handled.

These included the row over the future of the loss-making Centre for Visual Arts in Cardiff which is to close in November.

The row over funding of school theatre contracts was another thorn in the side for the body charged with overseeing the arts in Wales.

Withering

Conservative Assembly Member for South Wales Central, Jonathan Morgan, had led demands that Welsh Culture Secretary Tom Middlehurst remove Ms Weston from her post.

But it was a withering report by retired civil servant Richard Wallace which concluded that the council had lost the confidence of those it serves in the arts community and in itself.

The report on the management of the council was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly.

It suggested that senior staff had mishandled a number of high-profile decisions and suggested ways in which to improve the manner in which the council operates.

These include devolving authority to regional committees as well as taking measures to ensure that the council was more "transparent" in its dealings.