Redundant staff slam arts centre decision
Cash not used to save roles
Management at Stirling’s Macrobert Arts Centre have come under fire from technical staff recently made redundant
Earlier this year longserving technical staff threatened with redundancy said the proposed redundancies “threatened [the Macrobert’s] reputation”.
And a ‘Save the technical team of Macrobert Arts Centre’ Change.org petition had gathered more than 2500 signatures.
During the redundancy process Macrobert management pointed to a 60 per cent drop in income since March’s lockdown. Former Macrobert production and technical manager Mark Ritchie, recently made redundant, said this week that costsaving proposals had been put forward by the technical team in July a bid to save jobs, but these did not feature in the Macrobert’s Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund application made to Creative Scotland later that month.
The Macrobert received £485,213 from the fund in August. The redundancies came into effect at the end of October.
Mr Ritchie, who obtained a copy of the Macrobert’s application to Creative Scotland through a Freedom of Information request, said this week: “One of the opening statements of the application was that the funding would ‘keep the building functional and retain skilled staff ready and available to deliver performance’ as well as ‘have the performance facilities ready for the return of live events indoors’.
“I do not think that is compatible with three skilled members of staff, myself and
Concerns have been raised over a price increase for members of a newly redeveloped gym at Stirling University.
The university this week opened its new sports facility after a £20million refurbishment.
However, one gym member has hit out after membership costs increased with the reopening on Monday.
She contacted the Stirling Observer to share their discontent over the move.
Melanie van Niekerk says that cost of a membership has increased by 50 per cent. She said: “They are also backdating the rise rather than waiting for current two other technicians, losing their jobs.”
He added that the new post of technical maintenance coordinator mentioned in the Creative Scotland application was “no substitute for the posts which were made redundant.”
Macrobert artistic director Julie Ellen said this week their position “remains unchanged”.
She added: “The focus of the board and the staff team is to preserve Macrobert Arts Centre and the work we do memberships to expire.
“I used to pay £210 a year and had around 10 months left to run on it when lockdown happened and the memberships were frozen.
“They have now unlocked the memberships as the new gym opens but the annual cost is £310 and I have only got around seven months left on my old membership.
“I queried this and was told that they haven’t raised the price for five years and the new facilities are marvellous. Both are true, but I didn’t ask for or need a new gym and even over five years this is still a massive price increase.
“In these difficult times where we are in with and for the community so that it can go on into the future, beyond the terrible impacts of the pandemic. “We are sorry for the job losses that we have had, but there is no live performance permitted and no sign of when that will return.
“Most arts organisations in Scotland have seen similar or greater levels of jobs loss, including amongst those in technical roles. We are glad for the funding and the jobs that we have been able to preserve as a consequence.”
CHRIS MARZELLA
need of encouragement to exercise and many people have lost incomes, it seems massively insensitive to inflict this rise on the membership.
“I have one friend who won’t be renewing her membership. She had only just felt confident enough to join a gym and start exercising and this was enough to put her off. What sort of message is the university sending?”
The university says the new facility will offer “one of the best sport, health and wellbeing experiences in the country for years to come”.
On the membership price hike, a university spokesperson said: “For the first time in five years, we have reviewed our membership price structure. Our new fees remain significantly below market rate and allow us to continue providing our members with world-class facilities at an incredibly affordable price.
“At the beginning of lockdown, in March, all memberships were frozen, cancelled or fully refunded and are now being reactivated in accordance with our terms and conditions.
“Our existing members will be able to enjoy the new facilities for 30 days, for the same fee that they were paying prior to lockdown. Refunds will be offered to any customers who do not wish to reactivate their membership.”