The Stage

Glasgow music venues taken over by council to prevent closure

Published Wednesday 30 December 2009 at 16:35 by Alistair Smith

Three of Glasgow’s leading arts venues are under threat after it was revealed that their current owner cannot afford a total annual repair bill of around £2 million.

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the City Halls and Old Fruitmarket are to be taken over by Culture and Sport Glasgow – an arms-length Glasgow City Council-owned organization – in a bid to prevent their closure. Meanwhile, it is understood that staff members at the venues are being offered voluntary redundancy as the venues look to cut costs.

Glasgow City Council agreed to transfer ownership and management of the current body that operates the venues – Glasgow Cultural Enterprises - to Culture and Sport Glasgow, after it was revealed the cost of repairs and maintenance of the buildings had caused the operator to experience severe financial difficulties.

Earlier this year, a PricewaterhouseCooper report commissioned by the

council recommended transferring the venues to CSG to put them

on a “sustainable financial footing”.

Bailie Jean McFadden, the local authority’s executive member for external

government, said: “It’s clear that without the Council’s rescue plan the future of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, City Halls and the Old Fruitmarket would have been in serious jeopardy.

“These venues make a huge contribution to the cultural and educational life of the city, not to mention the huge tourism benefits they generate. Now that Glasgow is a UNESCO City of Music it’s more crucial than ever that we ensure that contribution continues.”

The transfer is expected to be completed in April 2010.