Scotland

Pitlochry Festival Theatre has been awarded grants for new captioning equipment.

The grants come from the Theatre Trust’s small grants programme with The Linbury Trust, as well as Jimmie Cairncross Trust and Misses Barrie Charitable Trust.

The theatre, located in the Scottish highlands, says the equipment will see the number of accessible performances increase, while also reducing costs and environmental impact.

“Having our own captioning display will allow us greater flexibility when programming captioned performances. We will no longer be reliant on a courier delivering the unit to us in time for the performance,” explained Jennifer Hoy, Box Office and Front of House Manager.

“Not only does this reduce the costs for delivery, but vastly reduces the carbon footprint for each of our captioned performances. Being able to install our unit permanently in one position will also help our audience members who benefit from captioned performances when they watch a show as the unit will be in the same place each time they visit.”

A survey of people living in Scotland found the majority support the creative sector being sponsored by the finance industry.

Two thirds of Scots surveyed said they think the financial backing of banks, pension providers and asset managers is important to the creative life of the country.

The figure dipped significantly only among the 16-24 age group, with almost a third saying they would not attend an arts or culture event backed by the business sector. 

Across all age groups, over half (54%) said they would have no concerns about buying a ticket for such events.

The poll of 1,000 people was conducted by Survation for strategic advisory firm True North, which works with Scottish Financial Enterprise.

It was conducted following the withdrawal of investment house Baillie Gifford from literary festivals across the UK. Activism group Fossil Fuel Books criticised the sponsorship due to Baillie Gifford’s investment in fossil fuels and companies that have commercial links to Israel. The group’s open letter received over 700 signatures from leading writers and publishing industry professionals.

Last month, National Galleries of Scotland put out a statement saying it will continue its relationship with Baillie Gifford.

The charity that runs one of the best-known Edinburgh Fringe venues has announced it is close to securing a three-year lease for the building. 

The future of Summerhall, a former vet school comprised of seven buildings that host hundreds of performances annually, has been uncertain after the building was put up for sale in May. Prospective owners were offered several "refurbishment options," including a change of use to residential, offices or student housing.

The complex is owned by Oesselmann Estates Limited, based on the Isle of Man, but is run by Summerhall Management. Summerhall Management works with its charity arm Summerhall Arts, founded in October 2023, to deliver an annual visual arts programme in the building alongside a programme of professional development and artist support.

The new terms of the three-year lease would see the charity take control of delivery of the entire year-round artistic and events programme and the employment of programming and operational teams.

“We have been working flat out to find a way to safeguard the consistent artistic delivery and the year-round programme of events at Summerhall, not just through the sales process, but into the future,” said Summerhall Arts Chief Executive Sam Gough.

“Whilst the Fringe and other events for this year are safe, we have been conscious that a longer-term future for the management of the building and the delivery of the arts has been less certain.”

To maintain its programme, Summerhall Arts is launching a fundraising campaign to help cover the core running costs of its artistic output.

Speaking on behalf of the building's owners, Stephen Kay from commercial agency Cuthbert White said: "We have always understood the importance of Summerhall for the culture sector and the city. This arrangement will allow Summerhall Arts the opportunity to keep the legacy alive and give them the time needed to secure a much longer future with any prospective new owners.

"We are supportive of their ambition to secure the future of Summerhall’s ongoing arts provision and will do what we can to facilitate their position." 

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has revealed a new sponsorship deal with JetBlue.

The deal involves JetBlue supporting the Fringe Society’s Keep It Fringe US fund. Launched in April, the scheme aims to raise $350,000 to support 50 US-based artists to perform at the festival in 2025.

The partnership follows a new route launched by the American airline to the Scottish Capital. 

Shona McCarthy, Fringe Society Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with JetBlue, whose value offering for transatlantic travellers will hopefully make it easier and more affordable for US artists and performing arts pioneers to visit Edinburgh."

National Galleries of Scotland (NSG) has put out a statement online saying will continue its relationship with sponsor Baillie Gifford.

Acknowledging it was "a complex issue," the NSG statement said “we are confident that the funding we receive from Baillie Gifford meets our strong ethical standards”.

The statement continued: “As a cultural organisation the National Galleries of Scotland offers a space for artists to share experiences and perspectives with others, encouraging discussion and understanding of the world we live in.

“This is one of the main ways we can positively impact society, but it needs to be funded. We deliver a world-class programme of exhibitions, events, engagement and outreach which just wouldn’t be possible without support from partners like Baillie Gifford.”

Baillie Gifford, a Scottish investment management company, has been criticised for its links to the fossil fuel industry and to Israel's war in Gaza.

Recents protests againt Baillie Gifford by climate activists - Fossil Free Books - led to the abrupt cancellation of partnerships with multiple book festivals including Hay, Cheltenham Literature Festival and Edinburget International Book Festival. 

Last month Scotland's John Swinney accused climate activists of damaging Scotland’s cultural events by demanding organisations to reject sponsorship deals.

The Edinburgh Fringe has also said it would keep Baillie Gifford as a sponsor. 

Emergency funding of £50,000 has been approved to prevent Nairn Community and Arts Centre in the Scottish Highlands from falling into insolvency.

The "one-off" grant will support increased salary costs due to paying the real living wage, higher utility costs, and maintenance within the ageing premises and follows the termination of previous third-party funding.

Issued by the Highland Council through the Nairn Common Good Fund, the grant is subject to conditions, including providing financial statements that meet the council’s satisfaction and providing evidence that the funding is needed to ensure the continuance of essential service provision.

The release of funds also requires the centre’s board to commission a feasibility study, completed by the end of the year, to investigate a new sustainable management model for the centre.

During a special Nairnshire area committee meeting, the majority of representatives from the community councils, Nairn BID, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Nairn Access Panel, and Queenspark Residents' Group were supportive of the funding intervention, though many questioned whether it was appropriate to use the Common Good Fund rather than council funding.

Councillor Barbara Jarvie said: “We need to remember if we go ahead with this, it is an emergency investment for the community centre that the vast majority realise is a huge asset for Nairn.

“For the doors to close would have a large impact on the entire community.”

Concerns were also raised by Councillor Paul Oldham that the centre's leadership had been aware of the problems for some time.

Councillor Michael Green added: “I think It is important this is not just a paper exercise. They need to embrace changes in real time."