The Byre Theatre in St Andrews might have to look at cutting back some of its work, and even staff, if there is no change of heart from the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) over its decision to withdraw the theatre’s flexible funding from April.
The theatre’s chief executive Jacqueline McKay will, with other theatre representatives, will meet the national body in the next few weeks.
It would lead to the loss over over £300,000 of funding over two years and has inspired a groundswell of support for the Byre.
There is astonishment as over the past three years the theatre has doubled its audience figures, turned around its finances and boosted the local economy.
Ms McKay said that an SAC statement said that while the application was of a high standard, others had met the criteria more fully.
She said, “That is what we have to explore with them.
“We have to find out why, and question the rationale.”
Ms McKay said that last summer a street theatre festival had been assessed as bringing over £140,000 into St Andrews in three days, that another few months of major activity is about to take place and that the Byre has a successful relationship with its main funder, Fife Council.
The theatre, she said, had been expecting an rise in funding, and had asked for foundation status which would bring five-year funding on a par with other significant theatres and organisations.
Ms McKay said that there are strong partnerships with other groups, and that the relationship with the council has been strengthened thanks to the Byre’s role in Celebrating Fife 2010.
The theatre also has a rural touring programme around Fife and has worked with vulnerable children.StunnedMs McKay said, “We are really quite stunned over where we have ended up.
“This is a recommendation, but there is an opportunity for us to talk through what we have done over the past three years, and hopefully see the proposal reversed.”
She added, “We also need to know what the SAC, which will shortly become Creative Scotland, has in mind, and where the Byre features in any new plans.”
The chief executive has also highlighted contradictions in the situation with SAC.
She said that recently the Byre received an SAC capital award to develop a box office on South Street, and to create a website which would help online sales, grow the business and build on the relationship with audiences.
Ms McKay said that it is terrific to see SAC funding going to other sources, for instance poetry festival StAnza which relies on the Byre to host and produce the event.
She said, “However if we start to remove the fabric of theatres where people can show their work, there are big questions to be asked.”
More support came at the weekend from North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell, who said that the Byre serves not just St Andrews but all of north Fife.
He said, “It makes a valuable contribution to our cultural life.
“I shall be writing to the chairman offering to help in any way I can.”