Statement from Castlegate Arts regarding Aberdeen Arts Centre funding following Aberdeen City Council Finance & Resources Committee meeting on July 11, 2025

“We are deeply disappointed that Aberdeen City Council has today voted not to provide Castlegate Arts funding from contingency budgets for the continued operation of Aberdeen Arts Centre.

“For the past 26 years, Castlegate Arts has been the custodian of Aberdeen Arts Centre, and of grassroots arts in Aberdeen. As a charity, it was formed by Annie Inglis to fulfil this role when, in the late 1990s, then-operator Aberdeen City Council decided to cut funding to the venue.

“We are proud to have earned the trust of the local performing community to advocate for local performers, and take this responsibility seriously.

“Therefore it is disappointing that, while the Council had the opportunity to make a bold commitment to supporting the heart of grassroots arts in the city, they chose not to – going against the wishes of their constituents who have turned out in force over the last seven weeks to positively support the organisation.

“In the committee meeting today, it was suggested that a lack of professional touring productions has contributed to the Arts Centre’s current financial situation. However, the 35+ local performing groups who are at the heart of our purpose consistently sell out our venue. In addition, we are already in conversation with the professional companies referenced in the meeting to return next year and supplement our programme with new stories to inspire Aberdeen.

“It is not ticket sales that are the issue. It is widely recognised that the arts sector – especially the grassroots arts sector – relies on subsidy to provide affordable, accessible opportunities for everyone.

“While the Council has gone on record to state that it is providing alternative funding support to Castlegate Arts, in practice this has amounted to a list of links to grant websites many of which are not applicable to Castlegate Arts’ charitable objectives.

“The Council, as Castlegate Arts’ landlord, has repeatedly delayed renegotiation of a long-term lease for the building – without which the organisation is ineligible for a vast number of the remaining significant-sum grants from alternative sources.

“For over four years, Castlegate Arts has proactively approached the Council for more favourable lease terms – to extend the term and to remove the financial burden of maintaining the exterior of a heritage, Grade-A listed building from a small charity focused on preserving people-powered arts in Aberdeen. This would place the organisation in a similar position to other community hubs in the city and Arts Centres across the country, greater enabling long-term growth.

“Aberdeen Arts Centre has always been a cultural cornerstone of the city, providing vital access to the arts for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. With Castlegate Arts, the building has become the home of self-organising community projects where local performing groups tell the stories that are important to them. These have been supported by youth theatre programmes, professional productions and creative outreach initiatives led by Castlegate Arts. Work in the Arts Centre enriches the lives of tens of thousands each year.

“Over the past six months, Castlegate Arts has brought in a new team of industry professionals, elected an almost-entirely-new board of directors, and implemented a new strategy designed to make the organisation more financially independent and sustainable. However, implementing such a strategy takes time, which Council funding would have afforded us.

“The outpouring of love and support throughout the Save Aberdeen Arts Centre campaign has shown how important the Arts Centre and Castlegate Arts are to the people of Aberdeen, and to the wider arts sector in Scotland.

“While we were congratulated in Council chambers today for our campaign remaining apolitical, it is clear that the elected administration is not listening. The ruling coalition’s manifesto commits that they will ‘invest in Aberdeen Arts Centre’ – however today’s decision suggests otherwise.

“We are thankful to the councillors, officers, MSPs, policymakers and members of the community that did fight our corner and who stood up for grassroots arts and culture in Aberdeen.

“The community has raised an incredible £90,000 so far, and Castlegate Arts is actively exploring alternative funding solutions, partnerships, and community-driven initiatives to ensure Aberdeen Arts Centre can continue to serve the city.

“This is not the end of the campaign to Save Aberdeen Arts Centre. The work continues.

“We will provide further updates soon, but in the meantime, we encourage everyone to join the conversation and make their voices heard.

“Together, let’s keep the spotlight shining on your creative community.”

About Aberdeen Arts Centre

Aberdeen Arts Centre is an independent arts venue and registered charity in the heart of Aberdeen. For over 60 years, it has played a crucial role in the north east’s vibrant arts scene through its programme of performances, Creative Learning Programme for children and adults, and an Artist Development Programme to support local professional creatives.

In May 2025, the centre launched the Save Aberdeen Arts Centre campaign – a three-year fundraising drive to raise £660,000 to secure its future. Individuals and corporate sponsors can find out more – and donate – at https://www.aberdeenartscentre.com/save-aberdeen-arts-centre.

Aberdeen Arts Centre – operated by Castlegate Arts – encompasses a 350-seater auditorium; café bar; flexible spaces for performances, events, exhibitions and meetings; and the Children’s Theatre, opened by Catherine Hollingworth in the 1950s as a pioneering youth theatre (the first of its kind in the UK) and now used as a vital resource for professional artist development.

For more information, visit www.aberdeenartscentre.com or follow Aberdeen Arts Centre on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @AberdeenArtsCentre.

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