Scottish Government injects £7m into culture

LEADING cultural organisations are to share an extra £7 million which has been set aside for major capital projects over the next three years by the Scottish Government.

Creative Scotland’s programme for new and refurbished buildings will be boosted from £15m to £16.5m. National Museums Scotland (NMS) has been awarded £2m to overhaul buildings in its estate, while Historic Scotland has won an additional £1.4m for its properties.

Up to £2m has been ringfenced for the National Theatre of Scotland for a new base in Glasgow, although it will not be staging performances there. Rehearsal rooms, offices, workshop space, and technical and storage facilities will be housed in a former warehouse in the canalside district in the north of the city.

The Scottish Government has already ringfenced millions of pounds worth of funding for other developments in Glasgow, including a new home for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra next to the Royal Concert Hall, and Scottish Opera’s flagship venue at the Theatre Royal.

The government said the funding for NMS would allow the organisation to address the “most urgent elements” of a repairs backlog.