Eden Court to receive emergency COVID-19 funding

Scotland's largest single-site arts venue is getting £800,000

Published 18th Jan 2021

The largest arts venue in the Highlands will receive £800,000 as part ongoing emergency coronavirus support.

Eden Court is one of three charitable arts organisations benefiting from a share of £3 million from the Scottish Government.

Capital Theatres, which operates the Festival Theatre, the King’s Theatre and The Studio in Edinburgh will also get £800,000,.

Aberdeen Performing Arts, which runs His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen Music Hall and The Lemon Tree, will receive £1.4 million.

The funding is part of the £185 million package of targeted COVID-19 funding announced by the Scottish Government last month.

Eden Court has now received £2.07 million in overall emergency funding as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Executive of Eden Court, James Mackenzie-Blackman said: “All of us at Eden Court Highlands are immensely grateful to the Scottish Government for this life-line support.

"Together with the communities we serve, and with the artists of the Highlands and Islands, this support will allow us to continue fulfilling our mission to bring the world to the Highlands, and the Highlands to the world.”

Culture Secretary, Fiona Hyslop said: “This funding will help to secure the future of three of Scotland’s important independent performing arts charities, protecting jobs and addressing some of the financial pressures they are facing.

“These venues all receive UK and international touring work of major scale, make a significant contribution to the economy and support a network of arts organisations, artists and creatives at the heart of our cities and regions.

“The Scottish Government has allocated more than £120 million of additional funding to support culture and heritage since the start of the pandemic and we will continue to listen to the needs of the sectors.”