Latest news with #CumbernauldTheatre
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Former Cumbernauld Cottage Theatre damaged in fire
Emergency services rushed to the former Cumbernauld Cottage Theatre following reports of a fire within the derelict building shortly after 2am on Friday, July 25. Firefighters tackled the blaze, eventually extinguishing it; however, the category C-listed structure - which is owned by North Lanarkshire Council (NLC) - had suffered 'significant' damage, with much of the roof destroyed. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed no one was injured during the incident. Following the fire, councillor Adam Smith, who represents Cumbernauld East, stated that residents are 'rightly angry' that the theatre, which was built in the 1700s, was left vacant for so long. Councillor Smith added that he remains hopeful that the Braehead Road building can be saved, but is disappointed that measures were reportedly not taken to 'better protect it'. He said: 'The fire at the former Cumbernauld Theatre building in the early hours of Friday morning was devastating to see, particularly as I secured the listing of the building and was the chair of the organisation previously working to take ownership of it as a community facility. 'As a listed building under the ownership of NLC, the council has a duty of care to the former Cottage Theatre and it's disappointing that measures were not taken to better protect it. 'The building is almost 300 years old and the external structure appears to have withstood the fire well, although much of the roof has been lost. 'I await the building survey report, however and hope there will not be a requirement for demolition. "People are rightly angry that the building had been vacant for so long and that the previous Community Asset Transfer request was rejected by North Lanarkshire Council, despite them having no plans for the site and having declared it surplus to their requirements. 'I remain hopeful that the building will survive and can have a positive community use in future.' READ NEXT: Glasgow youth project in desperate bid for new building NLC stated that it is engaging with other authorities to make a full assessment of the site. It has since been fenced off, and people are being asked to 'stay away' for safety reasons. The local authority also confirmed that a community asset transfer request for the former theatre had been made in 2022. This was refused; however, it was not stated why. An NLC spokesperson commented: 'A fire occurred at the former Cumbernauld Theatre in the early hours of Friday, July 25, which was attended by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. 'There is significant damage to the building, particularly to the roof, and we are engaging with other agencies to make a full assessment. 'The area has been fenced off, and the public is asked to stay away from the building for safety reasons. 'A community asset transfer request was submitted in 2022 for the former Cumbernauld Theatre building. 'This request was considered by the Education, Children and Families Committee in 2023 and refused.' Police Scotland confirmed that enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.
The Herald Scotland
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Cumbernauld Theatre chief quits months after funding row
Ms Price, who described the decision as 'devastating' at the time, launched an immediate campaign for a rethink from the government and its arts agency Creative Scotland. She warned that the decision on its future support had put the future of Cumbernauld Theatre "at risk." Read more: Ms Price previously described the treatment of Cumbernauld Theatre as "grossly unfair,' called for 'further scrutiny' of Creative Scotland's decision-making process and suggested its funding application was 'not fully reviewed.' However there were suggestions that Cumbernauld Theatre's funding application had fallen far short of the required standard. In an announcement confirming her departure, Ms Price, said she had found the last few months 'challenging.' Sarah Price is stepping down from her role as chief executive of Cumbernauld Theatre. (Image: Cumbernauld Theatre) However Cumbernauld Theatre chair Alan Caldwell said it had now understood why its funding application had been unsuccessful and accepted the decision. However he insisted that there could still be a 'brilliant future' for Cumbernauld Theatre. Cumbernauld Theatre moved to a new building, Lanternhouse, in 2021. (Image: Cumbernauld Theatre) The theatre has brought in Patricia Stead, a former executive director and chief executive of the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, and Jim Hollington, former chief executive of Dance Base in Edinburgh to head up a new 'task force' which will be charged with securing its long-term future. Ms Stead will take over as interim chief executive by the end of this month. Cumbernauld Theatre was the only organisation in Scotland to be dropped from Creative Scotland's multi-year funding programme, despite claims by the arts agency that all organisations it had previously funded would be getting a 'significant uplift after years of standstill funding.' The theatre trust, which dates back to the early 1960s, lost its funding less than four after relocating to a new building, Lanternhouse. At the time of the funding cut, Ms Price said: 'We are heartbroken by this decision. Cumbernauld Theatre is a vital part of Scotland's cultural landscape, dedicated to telling important Scottish stories, supporting artists, and making the arts accessible to all.' Ms Price said: 'It's been an enormous privilege to lead Cumbernauld Theatre through one of the most transformative chapters in its history. 'Embarking on a mission to leave behind the Cottage Theatre and launch Lanternhouse from raising funds for capital fit-out to designing the systems and processes that underpin our daily operations, this journey has always been about building something bold, inclusive, and community-driven. 'Together, we have launched an original cinema programme, expanded our community engagement and live performance programme, and developed an innovative collaborative theatre producing model that places artists, staff, and local voices at the heart of professional performance development. 'While recent months have been challenging, recognising the need for change and welcoming in the new interim chief executive, Patricia Stead, and a task force led by Jim Hollington, marks an important and positive next step. 'I feel confident that I am leaving the organisation with the capacity to work successfully with key stakeholders Creative Scotland and North Lanarkshire Council and secure the long-term future of the theatre. 'I leave with enormous pride in what we've built – a creative, open-hearted organisation committed to empowering people through the arts. I know the team will continue to take that work forward with integrity and imagination, and I will always be cheering Cumbernauld Theatre on.' Mr Caldwell said: 'We are delighted that someone of the calibre and with the enormous experience that Patricia has is able to join and lead the organisation through this period. 'We have accepted that our application for multi-year funding was not successful, and we understand the reasons why and that this decision will not be changed. 'However, we still believe, and we know that our communities rely on the belief, that there could be a brilliant future for this organisation, one in which it continues the vital and longstanding work it has been delivering with and for its important communities. 'We are working with a team of external experts led by Jim Hollington to support us in exploring the possible models and ways forward to secure a successful and vibrant future for this organisation.' Ms Stead said: 'Cumbernauld Theatre Trust is an indisputably vital resource for its communities and an important contributor to the broader theatre ecology in Scotland. 'The respect and affection for its work has been strongly demonstrated in the outpouring of support from audiences, the arts sector, across the political spectrum and from its local community. 'This theatre means so much to so many and its future currently hangs in the balance. I look forward to joining the excellent and very experienced team and working with them to harness its award-winning reputation, its passionate support and its vision for its future in order for us all to enjoy its success for many years to come.'
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Call for rethink after Cumbernauld Theatre has funding cut
A Scottish government minister is calling on Creative Scotland to rethink its "disappointing" decision not to grant funding to Cumbernauld theatre has been running for more than 60 years and moved into a new purpose-built arts venue less than four years week, it released a statement saying it was "heartbroken" after it was the only only regularly-funded organisation which had its application for multi-year funding turned down, putting 44 jobs at risk. Jamie Hepburn, the SNP MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, described the theatre as the "jewel in the crown" of the local community and said he would do "everything he can" to secure its future. Creative Scotland is an arms-length body responsible for distributing arts and creative industry funding provided by the Scottish week, it revealed the 251 organisations which will share more than £200m in funding over the next three years. Cumbernauld Theatre currently receives £266,000 per year from Creative Scotland, which will be discontinued from the beginning of Price, the chief executive of the theatre, Sarah Price, said: "Cumbernauld Theatre is a vital part of Scotland's cultural landscape"While this decision is devastating, we remain committed to exploring every possible avenue to secure the future of our theatre."The theatre has said it will apply for the Transition Fund offered by Creative Scotland. This fund is designed to provide short-term funding for organisations that were previously funded on an ongoing basis but were unsuccessful in their multi-year funding application - like Cumbernauld Theatre. Creative Scotland have seen a substantial uplift in its budget from the Scottish says this has allowed it to fund the largest portfolio of cultural organisations ever to be supported on a multi-year basis in Scotland - with 141 organisations receiving multi-year funding for the first time. Alongside the 251 organisations which will receive grants, 14 other organisations will be supported by a development organisations, including Cumbernauld Theatre, had their application turned down. A Creative Scotland spokesperson told the BBC that they are meeting with the theatre's leadership to discuss why their application was rejected and their options for future support. They said: "Until those discussions have happened, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."
