Creative arts funding boost

News of increased funding for the next three years was welcomed by the organisations’ Artistic Director and CEO Rebecca Atkinson-Lord.

They will receive a total of £1,706,451 for 2025-28.

Ms Atkinson-Lord said: "We’re incredibly grateful to Creative Scotland for their continued Multi-Year Funding support. The team there have made some hard decisions in very difficult circumstances.

"An Tobar and Mull Theatre are lucky to have received a 30 per cent uplift, which will go some way to mitigating the 65 per cent inflation rate experienced by islands and rural areas. 

"We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Creative Scotland and organisations across the sector to bring contemporary island culture to national and international audiences."

The money is a significant investment and means An Tobar and Mull Theatre can develop and produce new theatre works, supporting Scottish artists and playwrights, as well as expand its touring schedule to bring live performances to remote communities across Scotland.

The funding boost will also support more opportunities for creative collaboration in music and visual arts and inspire even more young and emerging artists coming through its educational and community engagement projects.

CHARTS will also be getting three years of Development Funding from Creative Scotland "in recognition of its strategic importance to the region", said a spokesperson for the membership network that works to create a sustainable future for the Culture, Heritage and Arts sector in Argyll.

An Lanntair, a hub for creativity and the arts in the Outer Hebrides, was on the funding list, too, and although the amount awarded fell short of what was hoped for, the group’s chairman David Green said discussions will now take place to see how its planned programme can be amended to suit the amount announced.

CEO Sean Paul O’Hare said: “We can assure everyone that we will be working very hard to keep our audiences and the public provided with excellent and entertaining activity throughout the coming year." 
 
Scotland-wide the funding will release more than £200million in support to be provided to 251 organisations over the next three years. Further to this, 13 other organisations, will be supported by a £3.2m Development Fund, with a view to them joining the Multi-Year Funding portfolio in 2026/27.