PLANS to develop the arts and culture in Jersey – especially at grass roots level – are to go ahead after a narrow victory in the States yesterday.

Members voted by 24 votes to 20 in favour of adopting the Cultural Strategy proposed by Education, Sport and Culture, which spells out their intentions for developing the arts and culture in the Island.

The strategy also includes the restructuring of the current funding arrangements for the Island’s arts and heritage organisations, taking away from the Jersey Arts Trust some of the funding responsibilities they currently hold.

‘I’m pleased because I believe the right decision has been made, but I would have liked the States to overwhelmingly support the strategy,’ Education president Senator Mike Vibert said.

‘It was inevitable that there was going to be a close vote because these issues raise strong passions.’ He added that he had no hard feelings towards Jersey Arts Trust, who have opposed the strategy on the grounds of its potential cost and the removal of the ‘arm’s length principal’ of shielding cultural organisations from direct interference from government.