ARTS venues across the North-East are being warned they face a reduction in funding after autumn’s Government spending review.

Arts Council-supported projects are being warned to budget for a ten per cent funding reduction, while councils say they face difficult decisions over their own venues.

Darlington Borough Council was one of the first authorities to tackle its deficit when it made funding cuts in July. It must find £22m of savings over four years.

Last month, the council said arts venues, sports centres and parks faced potential closure.

An investigation by The Northern Echo has revealed that in the past financial year, Darlington’s Arts Centre and Civic Theatre made a loss of £1,266,513.

Opposition leader Councillor Heather Scott said frontline services, including those in children’s and adult social services needed to be protected, and that it was regrettable arts venues may be affected.

But she said other methods to fund them needed to be investigated.

Martin Swainston, a Lib Dem councillor, said: “I would hate to see them close. The Civic Theatre is a vital part of the borough and is respected throughout the North-East.”

A council spokeswoman said: “There will be a reduction in a wide range of services as well as the potential closure of some council buildings, but no decisions have been made as yet.”

Peter Parlour, chairman of the Friends of Darlington Civic Theatre, said many recent shows had sold out.

He said: “The public have to appreciate these places have to be supported and they can not run on thin air.”

A spokesman for Darlington Operatic Society, which helped to save the Civic Theatre from closure in 1958, said: “The society has flourished since then due, in large part, to its ability to utilise such a stunning venue. It is simply unthinkable to imagine the town without the Civic.”