This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Funding for performing companies
01/05/2006
Scotland's five national performing companies are to share an additional £2.1 million next year, an increase of almost 14 per cent in their core funding.
Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said an Executive grant of £22.5 million has been allocated for 2007/2008 for Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, the Royal National Scottish Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and the National Theatre for Scotland.
Scottish Ballet receives the largest single increase - £1.2m - which reflects the strides taken by the company to deliver the highest standards of performance, garner critical acclaim and reach new audiences.
Scottish Opera has been awarded £200,000 specifically to underwrite large-scale productions planned for Inverness and Aberdeen as part of its programme in 2007-08.
And an extra £350,000 will also be provided to help the companies undertake international tours with the aim of spreading the message of Scotland's cultural confidence and ambition.
Ms Ferguson said:
"In January I outlined ambitious plans for Scotland's cultural life and promised to invest an additional £20m to realise our aspirations.
"Our national performing companies are lauded for the quality of their work, and this additional funding will ensure that they continue to excel and attract new audiences so more people can enjoy their performances.
"New funding has been set aside to help our national companies perform overseas. International exposure underlines Scotland's standing as a country synonymous with world-class artistic performances."
The additional funding is made up of £2.45 million from the £20 million announced as part of the Cultural Review.
Proposed grant levels for each company are:
Company 2006-07 2007-08
National Theatre of Scotland £4m £4.1m
Royal Scottish National Orchestra £2.95m £3.77m
Scottish Ballet £3.3m £4.53m
Scottish Chamber Orchestra £1.66m £1.85m
Scottish Opera £7.9m £8.29m
Total £19.81m £22.54m
Currently Scottish Ballet tours for 14 weeks annually: 12 in Scotland, 2 elsewhere in UK. This new funding will help the Company to:
- produce and tour a new full length production every year
- an extra four weeks touring in Scotland each year
- up to four extra weeks of touring in the UK and abroad
- continue repertoire development which will not only serve audiences at home but also ensure that Scottish Ballet can respond to international touring opportunities
In January, the Executive announced that it would assume responsibility from the Scottish Arts Council for the funding of Scotland's National Performing Companies. The transfer of responsibilities will be completed by April 2007.