Bosses at the north’s biggest theatre have been left “devastated” by cuts to their funding – and warned they may have to hike their prices to plug the gap.
The iconic Eden Court Theatre, in Inverness, also fears that some of its education courses may have to be axed as a result.
The venue is furious that Highland Council slashed its grant by £100,000 – a reduction of 17%.
The cut was far higher than the 10% that local authority chiefs had asked the theatre’s managers to plan for.
In a hard-hitting statement, a spokeswoman for Eden Court said yesterday that it would have to review its operations following last week’s council budget.
“We are surprised and devastated at this unexpected decision,” she said.
“Because it has come without any warning, and because we operate the theatre on such tight budgets, we don’t yet know what the effect on Eden Court’s services to the public will be. We will have to look at all areas of our operation – including our vital arts education work.
“Eden Court is one of the most successful regional theatres in the UK and it operates on funding of around just 20% from the public purse. We generate 80% of our own income and of the remaining 20% over half comes from Creative Scotland and slightly under half from Highland Council.
“Twenty years ago, the level of subsidy that we received was around 50%. Over that period, we have become more financially self-reliant by building up a commercial business which runs in tandem with our arts provision.”
The venue contributes at least £6million to the Highland economy every year – with money being spent by customers, conference delegates and performers in local hotels and restaurants and elsewhere in the city.
Eden Court delivers Higher Dance, Higher Drama and National 5 classes on behalf of the council.
Now the theatre is warning it could have to cut classes, stop National 5 Drama, increase prices and booking fees, start charging for parking and raise the prices for local performing groups and charities.
But last night Councillor Bill Fernie, the local authority’s budget leader, defended the cut and insisted tough decisions were required to balance the books.
“Although we are making a cut of £100,000, that still leaves them with £490,000 in grant,” he said.
“I accept they have been very successful in what they have done, but the council has been very supportive over the years.
“We are facing a £40million gap in our funding. Our communities want to protect education, social work services and roads. When the council is going to lose more than 300 staff by the end of March, we have significant problems to deal with.”
Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, said she understood the theatre’s stance but accepted the council had “no choice” about making the cut.
She said: “I was aware they were looking at funding cuts for Eden Court along with all their budget cuts.
“On one level it is short-termism, but where do you go when you are cutting schools and teachers? The council have no choice.
“Councils are being forced to make these really hard cuts.
“Eden Court might not be life and death but it does offer an alternative for young people not taken with mainstream education and builds confidence.
“Where we are, it is difficult to criticise Highland Council, we have to say, ‘do we look after our old, young and vulnerable, or do we cut money to a theatre?’
“I feel Highland Council has no choice.”
At last week’s budget meeting, Highland education spending was cut by £8.4million, and the amount going on community services was reduced by £2.4million, as part of efforts to close a final £30million budget gap.
A total of 275 voluntary redundancies have been confirmed, including 37 senior managers.