Gaiety highlights community work ahead of funding plea
AYR’S Gaiety Theatre has outlined its work in the community over the past year, as it prepares to ask councillors for another financial support package.
In March the Ayr Gaiety Partnership (AGP) asked South Ayrshire Council (SAC) to ‘invest’ £450,000 over the next three years to ensure the theatre remains viable as it continued to struggle amid covid restrictions.
SAC had already given AGP £335,000 plus £200,000 in Covid recovery funds over the last three years.
It had also secured a £650,000 loan for the AGP, which is being repaid.
At the time Gaiety Theatre chief executive Jeremy Wyatt said that they would not only need considerable financial support for the next three years, but well into the future.
It was decided that the council would not be in a position to grant more money until after May’s local elections. The request will return to Cabinet this month.
Before that the Service and Performance Panel will hear from the AGP about its last 12 months.
In its report to the panel, the AGP outlined some of its successes.
It delivered, the report states: Over £5 income for every £1 of council support, helped local groups secure £100,000 of new money from the Scottish Government’s Community Recovery Fund, 14 permanent jobs retained, 110 freelancers employed, 22,000 people entertained , engaged around 1,000 people in the community and secured £1.031m from other sources including ticket income.
The report continues: “In these terms AGP continued to deliver in South Ayrshire over 2021-22. The organisation’s economic impact is usually greater than over this period because much of the activity was in communities and online.
“However from September there was a gradual return to activity on the stage as well, and that has started to reassert ‘The Gaiety is emerging from the pandemic as a stronger organisation’ economic impact too.”
It pointed to the last two pantos it produced, which were ‘created specially for Ayr, with a Scottish creative team and cast’.
“In economic terms this keeps more of the benefit locally. And the increased artistic quality was recognized nationally with four star reviews across the media for the live show and film.”
Other shows toured across the three Ayrshire authorities, utilising funding from Creative Scotland to bring artists to communities lacking cultural activities.
It also helped Ayrshire Women’s Hub secure new premises and interim funding of more than £40k.
The AGP report concludes: “Despite all the challenges of funding uncertainty, The Gaiety is emerging from the pandemic as a stronger organisation with a much enhanced and expanded range of activity.
“Our new Creative Engagement wing, involving some of Scotland’s most exciting theatre-makers, is all about working in and with communities.”
The AGP hopes to deliver new projects, dependent on council backing, including working with care experienced young people and people with dementia.