BYRE THEATRE FUNDING: TALKS TO BEGIN WITH CREATIVE SCOTLAND
Published: 9th Jul 2010
BYRE Theatre chief executive Jacqueline McKay today confirmed that Creative Scotland - the newly-created arts body in Scotland replacing the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) and Scottish Screen - has indicated its intention to begin talks with the theatre to explore their future relationship.
There was shock when the SAC announced that Flexible funding for the St Andrews theatre, Scotland's only five-star arts venue, would not continue after April 2011.
Flexible funding provided by the SAC to the Byre Theatre for 2009/10 was £160,000. An increase to £290,000 had been applied for 2011/12 to allow the continued development of the Byre Theatre's artistic, education and outreach programmes and to support new co-productions with emerging Scottish companies.
The SAC announcement also saw award-winning national touring theatre company 'Wee Stories,' along with several arts venues from outwith the Central Belt, miss out.
Jacqueline who met with the new Creative Scotland on Friday (July 2) to discuss the situation, confirmed that the theatre plans an appeal.
“Although we look forward to continuing our dialogue with Creative Scotland to explore what the new relationship with the Byre Theatre could look like, we will, on taking legal advice, be appealing against the SAC flexible funding assessment process,” she said.
“We understand that this may take some time and while that is going on we will continue to deliver our dynamic programme for the summer and autumn which includes our work with the National Theatre of Scotland's Exchange project, nurturing the creative talent of Scotland and Europe's young theatre makers; our unique creative consultancy for Dunfermline which has already attracted extensive national media coverage; Starcatchers' premiere of 'Round in Circles' and the forthcoming tour of the Byre Theatre's innovative production of 'Little Light'.
“July also sees the return of :'Inside Out' our highly acclaimed festival of street theatre and performance in both Leven and St Andrews. In July 2009 Inside Out generated more than £142,000 for the local economy in just three days. For Inside Out 2010 we are confident that we will improve on that impressive contribution to Fife, given the festival's extended programme and growing reputation.”
Since the SAC announcement at the end of last month, goodwill messages have been flooding into the Byre from across the arts in Scotland and further afield.
Said Jacqueline: “We have been touched by the offers of practical help from artists and industry as well as the level of support from our loyal audiences and politicians across the parties in Fife, who are also shocked by the decision and its implications. A great deal of the theatre's activities over the past three years have been about taking the arts out of the building and into the wider communities across rural Fife.
“Andrew Dixon, the new head of Creative Scotland, has made it clear in his inaugural address to the country's theatre representatives that the organisation has inherited the commitments and grant programmes of its predecessor SAC. He has publicly indicated that both Flexible and Foundation funding for arts organisations will be reviewed later this year and that previous funding streams have not always been strategic.
“We welcome Andrew's approach and hope that early and more strategic alternatives can be devised.
“We are very confident that with our widely acknowledged, vibrant, artistic and public engagement track record, Creative Scotland can't fail to recognise our regional, national and international significance.
“Only this week our 'Poets on the Buses' creative consultancy initiative for Royal Dunfermline in West Fife, saw commuters and shoppers getting involved in inspiring exchanges in an unusual setting.
“For the past three years, despite the recession, audience numbers at the Byre Theatre have been bucking the national trend – almost doubling from 55,000 to 103,000. It's clear that our audiences have voted with their feet and the Byre looks forward to presenting Creative Scotland with a very strong case for continued cultural investment in Fife.”
Byre chairman Dr Frank Quinault agreed. “One of the points we made to Creative Scotland at our meeting on July 2 was the role that the Byre Theatre plays in enabling artists and companies to develop and reach new and wider audiences.
“We were delighted to see Flexible funding being awarded to companies like David Hughes Dance Company and StAnza, Scotland's international poetry festival, both of which have publicly acknowledged the Byre's pivotal role in their development.
“The theatre's key role in the success of those and other organisations should be recognised. It is essential that investment in the Byre continues to ensure it retains its place at the heart of Scotland's cultural ecology and its fundamental role in opening up the arts to Fifers much more widely than ever before.
“Given the SAC's investment in the fabric of this design award-winning building, and in recently announced capital developments to support business growth at the theatre (new box office extension on South Street and a new more user-friendly website) it would appear contradictory and short-sighted of Creative Scotland to withdraw support at this stage.
Bookmark & Share
© Copyright – All articles, text and images on St Andrews News website are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in full or part without first gaining written consent from St Andrews News.
|
