The Pickaquoy Centre, has been awarded £150,000 from the open call for applications to the Scottish Government’s Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund through Creative Scotland., as a performing arts venue.

Designed to support performing arts venues that cannot yet re-open due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fund is helping to: 

• remove the threat of insolvency prior to the end of March 2021 to enable the development and delivery of activity as soon as practicable 
• allow for specialist / core staff to return from furlough or avoid redundancy to work on future sustainable activity plans  
• increase commissioning and employment opportunities for freelance artists and creative practitioners (between now and end of March 2021) to support continued public engagement while closed.

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said:

“Despite the ongoing, detrimental impact that the Covid-19 pandemic is having on Scotland’s performing arts venues, and on culture as a whole, it is positive that we can offer some funding to help venues navigate these extremely challenging times.

” I’m also encouraged to see that this funding will help venues across many different parts of Scotland where they form such an important part of the cultural life of local communities.” 

The Pickaquoy Centre is amongst 59 venues across Scotland sharing a total of £4.74million from the Scottish Government’s Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund’s £5million open call.  A full list of all 59 venues can be found on the Creative Scotland website.  

Yesterday The Orkney News reported the welcome funding which went to The Sound Archive to support live music. Funding Boost for The Sound Archive, Kirkwall

Jude Henderson, Director of the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) said:

“We welcome the announcement of these emergency awards to performing arts venues across the country.

“The funds will help to support the vital work they do in serving communities, providing employment and showcasing Scotland’s world class theatre and dance offer, much of which is created by our members.”