The future of funding for arts projects across Oxfordshire could be left to London-based bureaucrats if Arts Council plans go ahead.

It wants to scrap Southern Arts, the regional arts board that lobbies for Government funding for projects in the county and the south of England.

It believes abolishing regional arts boards will improve efficiency and stop duplication.

Southern Arts helps new artists and organisations such as The Oxford Playhouse to develop themselves. It is also currently working with Oxford City Council to help win this city the title of Capital of Culture.

The county and district councils, Oxford and Oxford Brookes universities and museums and theatres are among the organisations opposing the move.

Jenny Roberts, the manager of Oxfordshire Touring Theatre, based in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, fears London-based decision-making will particularly hit new artists and smaller organisations.

She said: "We rely on our good contacts with Southern Arts. They know the direction we are taking and it's critical for artists to have a close relationship with their arts board.

"I don't understand how the Arts Council thinks it can put together strategies about areas it has no close link with."

Oxford Playhouse director Tish Francis said Government funding had risen from £2,000 to £150,000 in ten years thanks to Southern Arts. She said: "Southern Arts has done Oxford proud. I really doubt the extent of savings that would be made by abolishing regional arts boards."

No-one was available at the Arts Council to comment. Written responses must be sent by September 14 to Southern Arts at 13 St Clement Street, Winchester.