Dramatic intervention buys youth company a year to revive fortunes

ANALYSIS ONE wonders what its fate would have been if it did not have high-profile alumni, or a long history and a big name.

Several arts companies have applied and failed to gain regular funding from Creative Scotland, and have not received government help. The national funding picture is uneven.

Yesterday, Scottish Youth Theatre (SYT) was saved – again. Now it has a year to expand its scope, and re-order its own internal business so that by this time in 2019, a crisis point is not reached.

Fours years after former First Minister Alex Salmond sanctioned a £1million package that included funding for SYT, history has repeated itself.

In 2017, the theatre company applied for a funding package from Creative Scotland, but did not succeed. Without its funding, which would have filled a financial hole previously occupied by the Scottish Government funds from 2014, the company says its cash flow situation would have been dire, and it would close by July. Now, and with crucial financial help from Baillie Gifford, the Scottish Government, this time led by Nicola Sturgeon, has once again saved the company.

SYT is not officially designated a “national company”, in the same way as Scottish Opera or the National Theatre of Scotland are. However, it is becoming close. Twice now the Scottish Government has stepped in when the arm’s-length body, Creative Scotland, has decided against funding to save it. And again, the arm’s-length principle, which is meant to stop politicians intervening in arts funding, has been temporarily mislaid. The Scottish Government see it as being similar to the National Youth Orchestra and Ydance, playing a key role in inspiring young people to take part in the arts.

Chief executive Jackie Hardacre acknowledged the talks with government officials had been “challenging” and a review of the entire company’s operation seems to be starting.

However, unless the Government decides SYT should become “officially” part of the national companies, and benefit from regular, annual direct funding, it seems that it has a year to raise more funds, and expand and refine its work.

One cannot imagine the Scottish Government would find money again this time next year.