Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has been forced to delete a tweet in which he claimed a Cornish theatre had benefitted from Government support - after the open-air theatre replied to say it was simply “not true”.
It follows a tweet from Jill Biden, the first lady, on Friday where she praised a “beautiful and powerful program for G7 spouses” at the Minack Theatre, which is located in Porthcurno and overlooks the sea.
Quoting the tweet, Mr Dowden wrote that he was “delighted” that Dr Biden - along with the prime minister’s wife, Carrie Johnson - were able to spend time at the theatre.
He added: “This unique venue was one of more than 650 theatres helped through Covid with support from the £2bn Culture Recovery Fund, ensuring that it can entertain visitors for years to come.”
The deleted tweet: pic.twitter.com/gJ6FGoq38h
— Andrew Linnie (@AndrewLinnie) June 12, 2021
Except, it wasn’t, and the Minack Theatre soon responded to correct the record.
“Sorry @OliverDowden, but this is not true. We did not benefit from any CRF [Culture Recovery Fund] money as we were not eligible to apply.
“It turned out having a good level of cash reserves meant we had to fend for ourselves and utilise our own reserves,” they replied.
Sorry @OliverDowden, but this is not true. We did not benefit from any CRF money as we were not eligible to apply. It turned out having a good level of cash reserves meant we had to fend for ourselves and utilise our own reserves.
— Minack (@minacktheatre) June 12, 2021
The secretary’s tweet has since been heavily criticised on Twitter, with users describing the incident as “embarrassing”:
Well this, in a tweet, sums it up. Finger not on the pulse of Theatre side of the role. How Culture, Digital, Sport and Media is under one person is ridiculous anyway…
— Ryan Woods (@ryancwoods88) June 12, 2021
Sums up this government and half arsed approach towards theatre. Want to put on a show to entertain at G7 but not actually support the theatres when they need it.
— Amanda (Mandy) Dearne (@AFALeeds) June 12, 2021
How embarrassing 😳
— PerfectlyMe (@PerfectlyMe15) June 12, 2021
Mr Dowden, you deleted the tweet, but, as you might know, nothing is ever deleted on the web. Care to address this subject? Honest people would address it…
— Raffaella ❄️ (@salmakia77) June 13, 2021
What a surprise that Dowden is happy to take credit for something for which did nothing! He is an embarrassment to not only the theatrical profession, but to himself also.
— Andy Holton 💙 (@AndyHoltonDJ) June 12, 2021
Instead of apologising for getting it wrong, @OliverDowden has deleted his tweet claiming that the Minack Theatre in Cornwall received Govt support. Luckily, there are always screengrabs. Tories do set the bar pretty low with their Culture Ministers, but Dowden is something else. https://t.co/Jj02LB9pDt
— Rufus Wright (@rufusgwright) June 13, 2021
Hey @OliverDowden why don’t you actually talk to people and get your facts straight. So disappointing. https://t.co/Hu2VtRboM3
— MICHAEL JIBSON (@mikejibson) June 12, 2021
Although the tweet in question has been deleted, Mr Dowden is yet to issue an apology for the false claim.
A spokesperson from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport told indy100: “Over 650 theatres have benefitted from over £250m of support through our Culture Recovery Fund to date. A tweet was briefly issued in error that the Minack was one of them and we have now spoken directly to the theatre who have accepted our apology.”
