SCOTLAND’S performing arts companies said yesterday that they were “disappointed” with the news their budgets were to be slashed by the Scottish Government.
John Swinney made the announcement on Tuesday in his budget statement that overall spend on culture would fall from £170.2 million to £154.1m for 2016/17.
The move will mean that Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera and the National Theatre of Scotland will all have their funding cut by three per cent next year.
However, each of the companies said they understood why the cuts were needed amid the current financial situation faced by the Government.
“We are naturally disappointed but believe we can absorb this three per cent reduction in our funding with some adjustments to our plans for next year,” said Alex Reedijk, general director at Scottish Opera. “However, if this is part of a longer-term trend, we will clearly need to give careful consideration to its implications.”
Christopher Hampson, chief executive, said: “Scottish Ballet fully comprehends the difficult decisions that the Scottish Government had to take with regards to the budget statement.
The company remains committed to producing world class performances and engaging audiences and participants both on stage and within the community and we will do our utmost to minimise the impact the budget cuts will have.”
However, a spokesman for the National Theatre of Scotland said the cut presented operating challenges.
“While it is appropriate that all Scottish Government funded organisations should assume a share of reductions in an era of diminished public spending, even a three per cent cut has a major impact on the National Theatre of Scotland’s operating budgets,” he said.
“In addition, the fact that we are not being advised of subsidy figures beyond March 2017 makes our ongoing financial planning ever more challenging.
“Nonetheless, we look forward to continuing our work with the Scottish Government to ensure the success and growth of the National Theatre of Scotland for all Scotland’s theatre-makers and audiences.”
Spending on Creative Scotland, the arts funding quango, and “other arts” initiatives, will decrease from £56.7m in 2015/16 to £52.6m in 2016/17.
Creative Scotland will receive £32.2m in the next financial year, compared to its current £33.4m grant.
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