Bid to prevent youth theatre final curtain

CREATIVE Scotland could provide future funding to save a much-loved theatre organisation.

Scottish Youth Theatre (SYT) has an opportunity to draw the money from the arts body under an alternative funding arrangement.

The Glasgow-based theatre, whose alumni include Gerard Butler and Karen Gillan, said last week it would close after losing out in the latest round of regular funding from Creative Scotland.

SYT had said it would be left with a gap of about a third of its required income and had no option but to cease trading on July 31.

But Janet Archer, chief executive of Creative Scotland, has now said it is possible SYT could make up the shortfall through project funding applications.

Speaking on BBC Scotland, she said she had a ‘good’ phone conversation with SYT chief executive Jacky Hardacre on Friday. ‘We’ve been talking to Scottish Youth Theatre about other options in terms of Creative Scotland funding and will continue to do that,’ she told the Sunday Politics Scotland show.

Creative Scotland helped 300 organisations last year through project funding, she said.

Asked whether the money could plug the SYT’s £200,000 shortfall, Mrs Archer replied: ‘That’s possible.’