Ayr Gaiety issued the following via Facebook below..
We are very disappointed to learn Creative Scotland will not be including The Gaiety in their portfolio of Regularly Funded Organisations for 2018-2021. This is despite an increase of an additional £6.6 million from the Scottish Government which was intended to support and maintain Regularly Funded Organisations in the face of significant declines in the UK National Lottery Fund.
Our outreach work has engaged thousands of people, young and old in multiple locations including areas of deprivation where income may prevent participation in the performing arts and in rural areas where opportunities to participate are limited geographically.
Gaiety Chief Executive, Jeremy Wyatt commented:
“Without Regular Funding from Creative Scotland, we will be forced to review the volume of productions on offer and significantly reduce our new works and limit our support for emerging artists, instead focusing on commercial successes. We are disappointed by this decision, particularly in light of the recent commitment from South Ayrshire Council. We will continue our efforts to increase cultural engagement in Ayrshire and beyond”