He wrote to Education, Sport and Culture president Senator Mike Vibert in November outlining his alternative to the present operation, but says that the Senator’s hands are tied while Jersey Opera House Ltd are in charge.
Mr Ray proposes: 1 Ending the grant system and offering a five-year lease to a professional producer at a peppercorn rent with a percentage of the profits to be paid to Education.
2 Winding up Jersey Opera House Ltd and separating its association from the Arts Trust so that it can be run independently in a profit-or-loss environment without being a burden on the taxpayer.
3 Maintenance of the building by Property Services, paying building insurance, parish rates, gas, electricity and water.
The States to continue to repay the refurbishment loan to Barclays.
4 The producer to pay all costs for staff, advertising, telephone services and the expense of presenting in-house and major touring productions against his own risk, retaining all incoming revenues.
5 Opera House programming to include incoming attractions, in-house productions, concerts and amateur shows, one-night comedy shows, orchestral evenings, opera and ballet.
