Eden Court among venues receiving support from the first strand of Holyrood’s £12.5m relief fund
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The Highland capital's showpiece theatre has attacted support through Creative Scotland in a fund designed to support performing arts venues that cannot yet re-open due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The government's aim is to remove the threat of insolvency prior to the end of March 2021, enabling the development and delivery of activity as soon as practicable.
The injection will also allow for specialist/core staff to return from furlough or avoid redundancy to work on future sustainable activity plans.
Also, the fund will increase commissioning and employment opportunities for freelance artists and creative practitioners from now to the end of March, to support continued public engagement while closed.
James Mackenzie-Blackman, chief executive at Eden Court, said: “This investment from the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland indicates the vital role Eden Court plays in the creative and cultural life of the Highlands.
"We are relieved and grateful.
"Over the coming weeks we will share more on how we will use the funds to stabilise the organisation, reimagine our business model and provide opportunities for freelance and independent artists.”
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Theatres and performing arts venues are vital to individuals, communities and our country.
"Our performing arts venues effectively had to close overnight, with an almost complete loss of income. There is no doubt that in doing so they saved lives, and for that I am extremely grateful.
“We know the impact of this crisis will be long-term so ambitious action to support the future of these organisations, as well as our wider cultural infrastructure, is key. This funding will be a vital lifeline to help performing arts venues continue to weather the storm.”
Recipients of the second strand of the Performing Arts Venues Fund, an open fund of £5m, will be announced in due course.
Iain Munro, CEO at Creative Scotland said: “There are significant challenges facing Scotland’s culture sector, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
"This funding for performing arts venues is much needed and will help organisations tackle these challenges but we are aware that budgets are finite and it is not possible to provide financial assistance to every organisation through this route at this time.
“The Covid-19 emergency funds announced for the culture sector so far are not, by any means, the end of the support to be offered and there will be more announcements to come, not least in terms of how the £97m Scotland has received for culture and heritage as a result of the UK Government’s funding package is to be applied.
"The precise nature of this is still being determined and, beyond what has already been made available, Creative Scotland is working closely with the Scottish Government to actively discuss further support for the culture sector, including for those who may not have received funding previously.”
Photo:Keith Hunter
