Second arts firm pulls plug after quango’s cuts
Arts quango Creative Scotland is under fresh fire after it was blamed for the closure of a long-running company which will result in the loss of 15 jobs.
National audience development agency Culture Republic has announced it will be winding up within weeks after losing its long-term funding at the start of the year.
The Glasgow-based company, which has been running for 14 years, specialises in advising and training arts organisations on how to target and develop various audience demographics, and runs workshops and training sessions for the cultural sector.
Culturerepublichasworked with a host of leading arts venues and organisations, including the National Galleries of Scotland, the main Edinburgh festivals, V&A Dundee, Celtic Connections and the National Theatre of Scotland.
An official statement from the company said that it had been left with no option to close without any “endorsement, funding or long-term investment”.
Alan Wilson, chair of Culture Republic’s board, said: “This decision was very difficult and was taken following a major review of the company after our bid to Creative Scotland for regular funding was not supported.
“The ongoing lack of clarity at a national level of the role of data, digital and audience development – essential to helping Scotland’s cultural organisations understand, grow and diversify their audiences – also made planning for a financially sustainable future impossible.
“We recognise this is a very difficult time for staff and are now in the formal process of redundancy consultations with all employees and contacting our members and partners regarding the completion of outstanding project work.”
Chief executive Julie Tait added: “It is with huge disappointment that we close our doors at a time when data and digital technology – and the skills and experience to use them – have never been more essential to drive inclusion, attendance and rapid change across the arts in Scotland.
“We’ve worked across the country and with inspiring cultural organisations to help understand, attract and diversify their audiences, but were also in the uncomfortable position of competing with them for funds.”
Culture Republic is the second company in just over a month to announced its closure after losing out on a “reg-
0 Janet Archer heads up Creative Scotland, which has come under fire over funding decisions
ular funding” application to Creative Scotland – led by chief executive Janet Archer – earlier this year. Last month another Glasgow-based company NVA, which has staged events in some of Scotland’s most spectacular landscapes, said it would close in September
with the loss of seven jobs. It was also turned down in the same funding round.
A spokesman for Creative Scotland said: “We’ve been working with Culture Republic over recent months to discuss their future options following their unsuccessful
application for regular funding. We clearly recognise the importance of audience data collection and analysis in Scotland and are currently exploring how best to ensure this is provided effectively.” Don‘t miss property viewing times and further details in At Home