Hopes that a “soft opening” of the Byre Theatre in St Andrews could happen in early autumn have been dashed.
Fife Council has confirmed that it is “unlikely the building will now reopen until 2014”.
This follows a warning from Fife Council officials in May that an autumn opening was “difficult to guarantee” because of wider uncertainties regarding the level and consistency of funding that might be available from Creative Scotland.
Fife Council head of leisure and cultural services Grant Ward told The Courier: “Detailed discussions are continuing between Fife Council, Creative Scotland and Fife Cultural Trust with a view to securing a viable, long-term funding package that would allow the Byre Theatre to reopen and, more importantly, stay open.
“We said from the outset that this wouldn’t be easy in the current financial climate and so it has proven. It’s therefore very difficult to be clear about timelines, although, realistically, it’s unlikely the building will now reopen until 2014.
“All parties are working hard to find a sustainable solution and remain optimistic that this can be achieved.”
A Creative Scotland spokesman said: “Creative Scotland is actively working with other funding partners to facilitate the reopening of the Byre as soon as is feasible.”
St Andrews councillor Brian Thomson said: “It’s disappointing that there is still no timeline for reopening the Byre. However, it’s not surprising given the constraints on public expenditure at the present time.
“I hope that the continuing talks between the council, Creative Scotland and the Fife Cultural Trust will be fruitful, and that a viable financial plan for the Byre can be identified.”
St Andrews councillor Dorothea Morrison said: “The Byre Theatre has given so much pleasure to generations of local people I hope it can reopen in some form and continue to entertain us for many years to come.”
Mr Ward previously said Creative Scotland advised the Fife Cultural Trust that up to £100,000 could be made available in the short-term via its Cultural Economy Fund. It is unlikely there will be scope for any permanent revenue funding until a new policy is developed and agreed for the theatre sector as a whole, he said.
This is unlikely to be until 2014-2015 at the earliest. Mr Ward said the Fife Cultural Trust board had an obligation to ensure there is sufficient revenue funding in place before they could agree to take on the Byre.