Arts 25 September 2020
Emergency Scottish Government relief funds awarded to Falkirk Town Hall
Falkirk Community Trust is delighted to announce that Falkirk Town Hall (FTH Theatre), has received a total of £73,690 from the open call for applications to the Scottish Government’s Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund through Creative Scotland.
Falkirk Community Trust is delighted to announce that Falkirk Town Hall (FTH Theatre), has received a total of £73,690 from the open call for applications to the Scottish Government’s Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund through Creative Scotland.
The fund was designed to support performing arts venues that cannot yet re-open due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with FTH Theatre remaining closed with no date yet set for reopening this is a vital lifeline.
Located in the heart of Falkirk town centre, prior to closure in March, this lively venue promotes a varied and exciting year round programme, as well as playing host to many community groups enabling them to perform on a stage in this 580 seater auditorium.
Many popular, sold out shows which had been programmed in to appeal to the wide ranging audience have been cancelled and, in June, the Trust took the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 pantomime, Beauty and the Beast.
It is vital that the venue remains a centre for cultural activity in the Falkirk Council area and The Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund will enable FTH Theatre to:
• re-connect with audiences through imaginative and engaging approaches over the coming months whilst the Trust remains unable to present live theatre performances;
• assist in maintaining the venue’s financial viability and provide opportunities for programming, technical and front of house staff to continue to be supporting creative production;
• establish and implement operating procedures for re-opening FTH Theatre when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Lesley O’Hare, Culture & Libraries Manager said “We are absolutely thrilled to have received this funding, which comes at a vital time as ongoing restrictions mean we are still unable to fully reopen the theatre. We will use the funding to find new ways of animating the physical space as well as further developing online engagement to ensure continued connectivity with both audiences and the theatre sector. We plan to work with theatre companies and makers to provide residency/rehearsal space for them to develop new work and test ideas and concepts with local audiences.”
Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “Despite the ongoing, detrimental impact that the Covid-19 pandemic is having on Scotland’s performing arts venues, and on culture as a whole, it is positive that we can offer some funding to help venues navigate these extremely challenging times. I’m also encouraged to see that this funding will help venues across many different parts of Scotland where they form such an important part of the cultural life of local communities.”
Falkirk Town Hall is amongst 59 venues across Scotland sharing a total of £4.74million from the Scottish Government’s Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund’s £5million open call. A full list of all 59 venues can be found on the Creative Scotland website.
Jude Henderson, Director of the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) said: “We welcome the announcement of these emergency awards to performing arts venues across the country. The funds will help to support the vital work they do in serving communities, providing employment and showcasing Scotland's world class theatre and dance offer, much of which is created by our members.”
