ABERDEEN Performing Arts and The Barn have received £750,000 and £105,000, respectively, from the Scottish Government’s Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund.
The money is designed to support performing arts venues that cannot yet re-open due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Aberdeen Performing Arts and The Barn, based in Banchory, are among twenty venues across Scotland to receive funding from the first strand of the Scottish Government’s £12.5m fund through Creative Scotland.
A spokesperson at Aberdeen Performing Arts said: “We’ve had a mountain to climb since we closed our venues in March as nearly 90% of our turnover as an arts charity is earned income.
“Securing Performing Arts Venues Relief Funds has given us the stability to plan for the future again, safeguard jobs, continue to support artists and creative practitioners in the North East and keep in touch with audiences.
“It will be many months before we can open our venues again, and it will be a challenge to get back on our feet next year, but this funding is a lifeline.”
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A spokesperson at The Barn said: “We’re grateful and relieved to receive support from the Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund, which will help to safeguard our organisation until March 2021.
“As a result, we will ensure we have key staff in place to work on a sustainable future for the Barn and vital projects that will contribute to the health and wellbeing of our audiences, networks, and communities.”
