FOLLOWING the letter (Oxford Mail, January 8, Sign petition to save funding for Pegasus), we wish to clarify the circumstances surrounding Pegasus Theatre’s position regarding funding and its relationships with both Oxford city and Oxfordshire county councils. It is Oxfordshire County Council rather than Oxford City Council that is proposing funding cuts for the theatre that will amount to a crippling two-thirds reduction to core funding that will affect all areas, from working with over 5,000 young people each year, through education, training and employment opportunities, to support for emerging performing arts organisations and artists creating new work for the stage and creating a flourishing community hub. We appeal to Oxfordshire County Council to re-examine the depth of cuts they intend to impose and instead apply a one-third reduction over two years, taking it from £68,266 to £45,511. Alex Kanefsky, the co-artistic director of Paper Balloon and author of the previous letter has been a supported artist in the last year – resulting in a wonderful new production for children and families being shown at Pegasus and at venues around the country.

Both he and we are understandably concerned that without this core funding, such excellent work will be unlikely to find a home in the future.

It has been an unfortunate misunderstanding that the city council was named as the funder in question, rather than Oxfordshire County Council. At the time of writing, around 1,500 people have signed the petition against the level of cuts, not against the cuts themselves. We are keen to work with our councillors to ensure that the very best use is made of this renowned and valuable organisation. GILL JAGGERS Pegasus Head of Marketing Pegasus Theatre Magdalen Road Oxford