Policy and Resources Reverses Funding Decision for St James Cultural Centre

Policy and Resources (P&R) has reversed its earlier decision not to allocate funding for a cultural centre in Guernsey. Education, Sport and Culture (ESC) has withdrawn its proposal to modify P&R’s budget, as P&R will now provide an additional £151,000 to fund St James in St Peter Port. Jon Bisson, the venue’s manager, had previously warned that without this financial support, the facility faced potential closure next year. P&R has now confirmed it will include funding for the facility, which hosts various events including concerts, in its 2025 budget, pending approval from the States. Sam Haskins, Vice-President of ESC, stated that this compromise was reached following constructive discussions with P&R. He added: “I think P&R saw the mood music of our amendment and decided to make sure the money was there.” He further commented: “It’s part of our community and everyone can see the value St James provides.” Reacting to the news, Mr. Bisson remarked: “It is a one-year solution, which is not quite what we hoped for but it’s great in really tight times I’m really thankful. It gives us time to do more planning and look at the longer term funding.” He noted that 2025 marks their 40th anniversary and they intend to advocate strongly for renewed funding, but highlighted that a significant challenge is recruiting staff to fill vacant positions. He elaborated: “It’s tough when you’re only offering a year’s employment.” Mr. Bisson also mentioned that the venue is exploring options to bring in larger comedy acts, building on the success of Dara Ó Briain and Al Murray’s performances this year.