Plea for another £1m to help fund theatre revamp
CITY councillors will this week be asked to give an extra £1million towards the cost of the renovation of the Citizens Theatre.
If they agree, it will bring the total council grant for the work to £5m – just over a quarter of the total bill.
The redevelopment of the category B listed building, which is owned by the city council, will be its first comprehensive renovation in 140 years.
A report to councillors says work will secure the future of an ageing and vulnerable building which is regarded as an essential theatrical, creative and cultural hub for both the city and local communities.
It adds: “It will generate new levels of civic pride and excitement and play a leading role in the regeneration of the Gorbals and the wider cultural economy of Glasgow.”
The project team has secured £14.4m of external funding and a £3.1m private fundraising campaign has raised over £1.5m.
The report says: “Once core funding of £17.8m is secured, it is expected the public and corporate donations will increase and given the international reputation and depth of local support for the institution, the remaining £1.56m is considered achievable.
“To address the funding shortfall, it is proposed the council’s contribution is increased by £1m to just under 26% of the total budget.
“By committing to an extra £1m. the portfolio of funding secured over the last five years and the opportunity for a comprehensive redevelopment of an iconic theatre and rich community asset are not lost to the city.”
Work on the £19.4m scheme is due to start on site this year and be completed by December 2020.
The report says: “The redevelopment will allow the company to produce more work, engage with more audiences and participants and develop more emerging talent.
“The company’s artistic reputa- tion has never been higher and box office never more buoyant while the building itself has never been more fragile.
“The importance of the Citizens Theatre to Glasgow’s cultural, tourism and regeneration ambitions is well understood and has been recognised and endorsed by external funding bodies.”
They include the Heritage Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland, the Scottish Government and Historic Scotland.