Response to Creative Scotland Funding Decision

Cumbernauld Theatre Trust is deeply disappointed to learn that our application to Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Funding Programme has not been successful. This decision is devastating for our organisation, our staff, and the communities we serve, as it threatens our ability to continue delivering the rich artistic and cultural experiences that have made Cumbernauld Theatre a cornerstone of Scotland’s performing arts sector.

We are heartbroken by this decision. Cumbernauld Theatre is a vital part of Scotland’s cultural landscape, dedicated to telling important Scottish stories, supporting artists, and making the arts accessible to all. We know the value of what we do – the joy it brings, the opportunities it creates, and the impact it has on our community. While this decision is devastating, we remain committed to exploring every possible avenue to secure the future of our theatre.

Chief Executive, Sarah Price

For over 50 years, Cumbernauld Theatre has been a home for original Scottish theatre-making, innovative live performance, and a thriving participatory arts programme. Every year, we welcome over 40,000 audience members, artists, and participants into our venue, offering a diverse and inclusive artistic programme that inspires, challenges, and enriches lives. This funding decision places all of this at risk.

What This Means for Cumbernauld Theatre

This funding was essential to ensuring that Cumbernauld Theatre could continue to produce and present theatre at the scale and ambition we had planned. While we will apply for the Transition Fund offered by Creative Scotland, this is short-term support and does not replace the long-term stability that multi-year funding would have provided.

Over the coming weeks, we will be reviewing our future plans and considering how we move forward in the wake of this decision. We will also be working closely with our partners, funders, and supporters to identify new ways to sustain our artistic and community programmes.

A Call to Action for Our Audiences and Supporters

At this critical time, we need our community more than ever. Cumbernauld Theatre has always been more than just a venue – it is a space where people come together, where creativity flourishes, and where stories are shared. We will be calling on our audiences, supporters, and stakeholders to stand with us as we fight for the future of our theatre.

We are grateful for the unwavering support of the artists, audiences, participants, and partners who believe in the power of theatre to transform lives. We urge those who care about the future of cultural life in Scotland to continue to advocate for the arts, ensuring that communities like ours do not lose the vital creative spaces they rely on.

We will provide further updates as we navigate this challenging period. In the meantime, we encourage our audiences to continue attending performances, engaging with our work, and championing the role of theatre in Scotland’s cultural life.

Author

Rachel Murphy

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