The Byre Theatre in St Andrews is to appeal against the Scottish Arts Council decision to withdraw flexible funding with the resultant £320,000 in grant loss over two years.
The decision has been made following talks between Byre representatives and the SAC’s newly-formed successor body, Creative Scotland.
The funding loss from April 2011, revealed last month, caused widespread concern and chief executive Jacqueline McKay indicated jobs and the theatre’s work could be affected.
She says Creative Scotland intends to begin talks with the Byre to explore future relationships.
The decision to appeal shows there was no change of heart as a result of last week’s talks. The reasons for the SAC decision have not been revealed, other than an indication that other theatres better fitted the criteria.
The Byre had applied for even more money £580,000 from 2011 to 2013 and this would have allowed continued development of its artistic, education and outreach programmes, and support for new co-productions with emerging Scottish companies.
Ms McKay said the Byre looked forward to continuing dialogue with Creative Scotland to explore what the new relationship with the Byre could look like, but an appeal would be launched against the SAC flexible funding assessment process.
“We understand this may take some time and while that is going on we will continue to deliver our programme for the summer and autumn.”
She said it included work with the National Theatre of Scotland’s Exchange project, the creative consultancy for Dunfermline that has already attracted extensive national media coverage, and the return of “Inside Out” street theatre which in July 2009 generated more than £142,000 for the local economy in three days.
“Many theatre activities over the past three years have been about taking the arts out of the building and into communities across rural Fife.”
The chief executive said goodwill messages had been flooding into the Byre from across the arts in Scotland and further afield.
“We have been touched by offers of practical help from artists and industry as well as the level of support from our loyal audiences and politicians across the parties, who are shocked by the decision and its implications.Strong case”For the past three years, despite the recession, Byre audience numbers have bucked 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,” she said.
She said Andrew Dixon, the new head of Creative Scotland, had stated that it had inherited the commitments and grant programmes of its predecessor SAC, that both flexible and foundation funding for arts organisations will be reviewed later this year, and 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,” said Ms Mackay.
Byre chairman Dr Frank Quinault said one point made to Creative Scotland was the role played by Byre in enabling artists and companies to develop and reach new and wider audiences, and the theatre’s key role in the success of other organisations should be recognised.
“It is essential 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 before,” he said.
Mr Quinault said SAC had invested in the fabric of the Byre and announced capital developments to support business growth at the theatre in the form of a 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,” he said.