Bid to save ‘heart of the community’ as Nairn Community and Arts Centre seeks £50k from Nairn Common Good Fund
The team behind Nairn Community and Arts Centre is seeking support as the venue faces an uncertain future.
Run by a charity within council-owned premises those behind the centre are seeking £50,000 from the Nairn Common Good Fund to allow it to continue while a recovery plan is developed for its longer-term future.
Unprecedented escalating costs have resulted in “significant financial challenges” in recent years they say.
Now a special meeting of Highland Council’s Nairnshire area committee has been scheduled for Monday of next week when members will decide whether to award the £50,000 funding to the charity.
An email was sent by council officers last Friday to the newly-formed Nairn Common Good Engagement Group and the area’s four active community councils informing them of the request.
Although admitting the centre is at risk Bob Ferenth, a director for many years who was elected as chairman of the centre’s board in March, said they have been working hard over months to prepare a “structured” recovery plan and are hopeful the Nairn community will get behind them.
He said: “Many people within the Nairn community may not realise that their community and arts centre operates as a Scottish charity under the stewardship of a volunteer board of directors.
“Like many community organisations and charities, we at the Nairn Community and Arts Centre are facing significant financial challenges due to unprecedented escalating costs.
“Our utility expenses have nearly doubled, notwithstanding our recent investment in grant-funded solar energy technologies, and we are dealing with increasing repair costs due to the age of our building.
“Historically, like most community resources, we have relied on grant funding and subsidies, but the competition for these funds has intensified, making it harder to secure necessary support.”
He said that to help address the situation they reached out to council officers on April 16, providing a detailed report of their financial position as well as a proposed recovery and business plan.
The centre was built in 2007 with the site and building owned by Highland Council though it is run as a charity and has become a popular venue for live shows as well as films.
It receives more than 75,000 visitors a year and supports more than 50 community groups, with profits going back into its programme and to enable community groups and individuals to hire space at an affordable cost.
Mr Ferenth said: “We have requested financial support from the Highland Council to give our board time to implement the recovery and business plan. Given the centre's crucial role in Nairn’s social, community, charitable and cultural life we suggested that this funding come from the Nairn Common Good Fund.
“Our centre is a fantastic facility managed by dedicated staff, providing facilities and supporting a high percentage of the valuable groups and charities within the Nairn community.”
In an email newsletter published on Sunday, local Highland councillor Paul Oldham shared his concerns over the current situation, saying a cash injection from common good fund (currently valued at around £800,000 between cash and stock and shares) is the only option to keep the centre going until Christmas.
He said: “'I have had a lot of feedback from the blog post, and the general sentiment is that we can't let the centre fail, so we must provide financial support in the short term.
“However, it would have been far easier if the directors had reached out to us earlier, and many highlighted the need for a new start so that they can get some financial stability.”
Mr Ferenth said the board is confident the current situation can be handled as they previously faced down difficulties arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“With the support of the Nairn Common Good Fund, local businesses and of the wider community, we are confident in our bright future,” he insisted.
“We are committed to continuing to provide essential services and cultural activities for Nairn, and believe that with collective support, we will overcome the current hurdles.”
