The Stage

McArdle quits as Lemon Tree director

Published Tuesday 18 May 2004 at 12:00 by Hamish Mackay

Director of Aberdeen’s award-winning Lemon Tree arts venue Kathy McArdle has been made redundant after the building ran up an unexpected £140,000 deficit.

McArdle quit following a meeting of Lemon Tree Aberdeen Limited, which last month replaced the Lemon Tree Trust with the aim of putting the venue on a business footing. A severance package is being negotiated.

Last week councillor Scott Cassie, who chaired both bodies, resigned saying he had no confidence in McArdle and could not continue with the new company while she remained in the post. Aberdeen City Council helps funds the venue, which opened in 1993, with an annual £199,000 grant and gives it a further £40,000 from the Common Good Fund.

Cassie said: “The city council is very concerned about the funding of the Lemon Tree and they have got to get it right very shortly. We have taken the debt out of the equation, because the new company was entitled to a fresh start on the basis of the information available. That won’t happen again.”

Former general manager Karen Laing left earlier this year to take up a post with Aberdeen University.

New chairman John Loveday paid tribute to the hard work done by Cassie, and said: “We wish to reassure our faithful patrons that the Lemon Tree has a secure future as one of Scotland’s, if not the UK’s, leading arts venues. The board composition now includes Aberdeen city councillors, and highly experienced individuals covering a variety of disciplines including finance, catering and marketing.

“Tighter reporting strategies are now in place to allow closer financial reviews. It has become clear that the previous accounts submissions had not been scrutinised thoroughly enough. Assurances were repeatedly given that finances were on an even intend to run the Lemon Tree in a different way - the board will have a much more hands-on approach. It will be run as a business.”

Former artistic director of the flagship Project Arts Centre in Dublin, McArdle was appointed director of the Lemon Tree in June 2002. She was unavailable for comment.