The minister in charge of appointing members of the Isle of Man's Arts Council maintains the body is still independent and free to make its own decisions.
Until October last year, appointments went before the Council of Ministers, but now they are in the hands of Community Culture and Leisure Minister David Cretney.
David Callister MLC says the council feels its independence is being compromised because department officials are able to overrule its views.
Mr Cretney says that's absolutely not the case:
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