Scotland throws £10 million lifeline to the arts

Scotland throws £10 million lifeline to the arts

main

norman lebrecht

July 03, 2020

While England sinks, the Scottish Government has created a £10 million emergency relief fund to lift ‘the threat of insolvency’ from venues and companies that cannot pay their staff.

The Scottish culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said: ‘This dedicated fund will be a vital lifeline to help performing arts venues continue to weather the storm. We are also actively considering support for grassroots music venues.

‘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 vital.

‘Our theatres and performing arts venues and the talented freelancers who work with them are an essential part of the fabric of Scotland’s culture and communities and promote our international reputation, and we are determined that they will survive and be able to thrive again.’


Royal Scottish National Chorus

In other developments, The Stage newspaper is discussing redundancy with its staff.

Comments

  • Tyler says:

    Once again, Scotland proving its devotion to the arts. Bravo to them!

    • Alan says:

      This must be the first time!

    • Iain Muir says:

      So what happened to Edinburgh’s opera house?

      • macca says:

        Edinburgh got its opera house years ago. The Edinburgh Festival Theatre is one of the best equipped theatres with one of the largest stages and best acoustics for opera in the UK. Edinburgh is good at getting things wrong, but eventually, after many years of dithering, their decision to restructure the old Empire Theatre proved to be the ideal solution.

    • Iain Scott says:

      And actually a personal commitment from Fiona Hyslop the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Culture. She gets the importance of the arts on a human and economic level.

  • Thomas says:

    In the interest of trying to bring a bit of balance to the coverage on this site: tens of millions of pounds of support from ACE for arts companies in England was due to be announced earlier this week but the announcement is delayed until next week. More on the reasons for the delay at ACE would be helpful.

  • CA says:

    Nothing like this in USA. Crash & burn. As usual. Oh but we’ll take our pro sports.

  • christopher storey says:

    You mean England is providing it . Scotland’s finances are completely underwritten by HM Treasury

  • Gustavo says:

    Sell Balmoral to Trump to save the (R)SNO!

  • Stereo says:

    Take note Boris!

  • MOST READ TODAY: