Aberystwyth, Wales, UK. April 19 2013. L-R: LYNNE DICKENS, STEPHEN WEST, GILLIAN CLARKE, JANE LLOYD-FRANCIS} Protesters unhappy with the suspension of two Aberystwyth Arts Centre's senior managers, present a petition signed by over 1,700 people to APRIL McMAHON, Principal of Aberystywyth University. Local artists and other concerned members of the public fear that planned re-organisation within the University will lead to less public access to the internationally renowned centre photo Credit: Keith Morris/Alamy Live News
A 1,700-signature petition in support of two managers allegedly suspended at Aberystwyth Arts Centre has been delivered to the university. The National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke presented it to the university's vice-chancellor calling for their reinstatement. The university has not confirmed or denied any staff suspensions. Vice-chancellor Prof April McMahon said a meeting with Ms Clarke afterwards was "constructive". In February police stopped a dance music event at the arts centre after being told a baby was in the audience. The online petition was started by Stephen West, who delivered it with Ms Clarke on Friday morning, and has been supported by 1,749 people. In it, he claimed: "Aberystwyth Arts Centre is threatened by heavy-handed restructuring and destabilisation by the university and suspension of its two senior managers." They have called for director Alan Hewson and operations manager Auriel Martin to be reinstated. Ms Clarke, from Llandysul, Ceredigion, has backed the campaign in support of the pair. "The Aberystwyth Arts Centre is the heart of cultural life in Ceredigion," she said on the petition website. Mr West claims the suspensions came at a time when the university was planning a re-structure, and said officials had been "hiding behind this issue of confidentiality" to avoid explaining their plans. Prof McMahon and senior pro vice-chancellor Prof Aled Jones met Mr West and Ms Clarke to hear their concerns about Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Friday.
Size: 3000px × 1997px
Location: Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, UK, GB, Great Britain, Europe
Photo credit: © keith morris news / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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Keywords: aberystwyth, arts, centre, people, person, protest, uk, university, wales, welsh
