Cultural organisations and performing arts venues in the Highlands receive emergency Covid-19 funding totalling £673,409 from the Scottish Government
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Eden Court Theatre in Inverness is among 11 cultural organisations and performing arts venues in the Highlands to receive a share of £673,409 emergency Covid-19 funding from the Scottish Government.
The theatre has been awarded £372,604.
Other beneficiaries included Elephant Sessions, the Playhouse in Nairn, MacGregor's Bar in Inverness, North Lands Creative Glass, Skipinnish and Skye Live.
The awards, made through Creative Scotland, were part of £17million distributed to 331 organisations and venues across Scotland.
From comedy clubs and theatres to galleries and production companies, the second round of the Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund (COVR) is designed to help prevent insolvency and/or significant job losses due to the impact of Covid-19, and the Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund (PAVR) is helping venues to remain solvent, return staff from furlough, and enable new artistic commissions from freelance artists.
Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said: "I am delighted that this vital funding is reaching the culture sector, which has endured some of the most challenging restrictions over the past 18 months.
"It’s exciting that the sector can now plan for full reopening.
"The communal experience of being part of an audience cannot be replicated, and it has been sorely missed since the start of the pandemic.
"The move beyond level 0 will allow the sector to reopen fully, but I know that it will take some time to rebuild. This funding will play a key role in stabilising many venues and businesses as the sector begins to recover.
"The Scottish Government has provided almost £175 million of emergency support to the culture, heritage and events sector since the start of the pandemic, and I look forward now to working with the sectors to build for the future."
Joan Parr, interim director of arts and engagement said: "Our first priority continues to be supporting the recovery and renewal of Scotland’s art and creative sector as Covid-19 restrictions are eased and the sector can open up again more fully.
"Nevertheless, we remain acutely aware of the critical challenges faced by so many cultural organisations, and we know how vital this funding is in continuing to help protect jobs and support the sustainability of a sector that has felt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic so significantly."
The awards included:
Beyond Presents Ltd – £25,000
Eden Court Highlands – £372,604
Elephant Sessions – £10,000
Highland Bar Services Ltd (Playhouse, Nairn) – £20,000
Limelights UK LTD – £75,000
Linnhe Leisure Ltd t/a Nevis Centre – £34,805
MacGregor's Bar, Inverness – £10,000
North Lands Creative Glass – £35,000
Skipinnish Ltd – £71,000
Skye Live – £10,000
Watercolour Music Ltd – £10,000
Eden Court Theatre and cinema to reopen
