Scottish Opera calls for more funding as accommodation costs rise

Scottish Opera has renewed calls for multi-year funding and for a greater share of national expenditure on arts and culture as it revealed increasing cost pressures - particularly from accommodation providers across Scotland.

The organisation said a move to longer-erm funding would “greatly increase the certainty and stability of our financial and artistic planning” as it published its accounts for the year to March 31 with Companies House.

It also called for the Scottish Government to increase its share of culture funding to 1 per cent. It currently sits at 0.56 per cent.

In a statement published with its annual accounts, Scottish Opera said increases to salaries, as well as rising costs of accommodation when travelling in Scotland, had put pressure on its finances.

It said: “Additional cost pressures remain, especially with accommodation providers across Scotland, alongside upward pressure on salaries and wages.”

Scottish Opera’s government funding is delivered on an annual basis, as one of Scotland's National Performing Companies. Last year, it saw a 4.1 per cent uplift in its funding.

Scottish Opera chair, Peter Lawson, said an increase in Scottish Government contributions to culture of 1 per cent of expenditure would be closer to that offered by governments of many European countries.

The organisation reported a surplus for the year of £351,000, up from £222,000 in the previous 12 months.

He said: “As one of Scotland's National Performing Companies, Scottish Opera serves as a vital pillar of a healthy society. We continue to advocate for cultural investment to reach 1 per cent of total Scottish Government expenditure, matching Culture Counts' recommendations.

“This would align Scotland more closely with European standards, where cultural investment averages 1.5 per cent.”

Culture Counts is a network of Scottish arts, heritage and creative industries organisations advocating for the development and protection of culture.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scottish Opera is funded directly by the Scottish Government and in 2025/26 the budget for Scottish Opera was set at over £8.5 million.

“The Scottish Government is committed to investing at least £100 million more annually in the arts and culture by 2028-29, having increased investment by almost £50 million to-date.”

Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre warned audience habits "remain unpredictable", with customers delaying booking tickets.

The theatre warned that “shorter booking patterns remain common”, a trend which has caused uncertainty for arts organisations and events since the pandemic, as people resist making a long-term commitment to attend a show.

Helen Schofield, chair of the Traverse Theatre board of trustees, said the theatre had been “resilient” in the face of rising economic pressures.

The theatre also broke even in a "year of prudent stewardship and stability".

In January, the Traverse was one of 13 organisations put into a Creative Scotland “development stream”, with a view to the theatre joining the multi-year funding portfolio in 2026/27, once areas for development had been addressed.

Earlier this month, it was approved to join the multi-year funding cohort from April.

Ms Schofield said: “Financially, 2024/25 was a year of prudent stewardship and stability. The Traverse generated £2.7 million in income against £2.7 million in expenditure, closing the year with £1.09 million in reserves.

She added: “This performance reflects both the enduring value of public investment and the success of our efforts to diversify income through partnerships, fundraising and trading activity.”

Ms Schofield said the wider theatre sector “remains under significant pressure, with rising costs, economic uncertainty and continued strain on public funding”.

She said: “Against this backdrop, the Traverse has remained resilient, refining its artistic vision, strengthening its financial base and adapting its operations to secure a sustainable and equitable future.

The Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh | Google Maps

“The Board of Trustees has worked closely with the senior management team throughout, offering guidance, expertise and oversight as we navigated an evolving funding landscape, ensuring the Traverse remains a confident, forward-looking organisation ready to meet the opportunities ahead.”