PURPOSE of REPORT to Consider a Revenue Funding Bid by an Lanntair Ltd
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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 21 FEBRUARY 2018 AN LANNTAIR REVENUE FUNDING 2018/19 Report by Director of Development PURPOSE OF REPORT To consider a revenue funding bid by An Lanntair Ltd. for 2018/19. COMPETENCE 1.1 There are no legal, financial, equalities or other constraints to the recommendations being implemented. Provision exists within the Development Department Arts Revenue Budget. SUMMARY 2.1 An Lanntair Arts Centre (An Lanntair) is a nationally acclaimed and internationally renowned cultural hub. Comhairle support enables An Lanntair to deliver a year round programme of high quality visual art exhibitions, performing arts events, cinema screenings and educational activities which provide significant economic and social benefits for the Outer Hebrides. 2.2 Creative Scotland has acknowledged An Lanntair’s achievements and status by awarding the organisation £1,210,000 in three year Regular Funding for the period to 2018-2021. This releases an average of £403,333 per annum, with no increase on their 3 year Regular Funding Award for the period 2015/18. The bidding process for three year Regular Funding by organisations throughout Scotland was extremely competitive. A target figure of £69, 350 per annum in partnership funding from the Comhairle was an important factor in the leverage of this significant sum from Creative Scotland. 2.3 An Lanntair Ltd. and its trading subsidiary An Lanntair Trading currently employs 49 individuals across the organisation from programmers and curators to hospitality and catering staff. In addition to PAYE staff An Lanntair annually generates work for approximately 32 freelance artists based in the Outer Hebrides via the Education, Exhibitions and Performing Arts Programme. 2.4 An Lanntair is a critical component of the tourism and creative/cultural sector in the Outer Hebrides. Continued funding from the Comhairle will enable the organisation to further develop its potential to deliver an exceptional programme of arts activity, attract more visitors and establish a pattern of financial sustainability. RECOMMENDATION 3.1 It is recommended that, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of a one year Funding Agreement for 2018/19 and to the repayment of the sum of £3,415 due under Prudential Borrowing arrangements, the Comhairle approve funding of £69,350 from the Arts Revenue Budget to An Lanntair Ltd. Contact Officers: Elsie Mitchell Arts Development Officer 01851 822 695 Appendices: 1. An Lanntair: Projected Income & Expenditure Statement Year 2018-19 2. An Lanntair: Summary Accounts for year ended 31 March 2017 Background Papers: Report to Sustainable Development Committee, 1 March 2017 BACKGROUND 4.1 An Lanntair Arts Centre was established as a charitable trust in 1985 and is currently in its 32nd year of operation. Originally based in premises in Stornoway Town Hall, An Lanntair expanded significantly in 2005 when a new purpose built arts centre, at a total build cost of £5.3 million, was officially opened. 4.2 The capital project was made possible by a National Lottery Award from the Scottish Arts Council of £3,060,080 – one of the largest awards made in Scotland from National Lottery Funds. This was a reflection of the strategic national importance of the organisation to the Scottish Arts Council and An Lanntair’s role in helping to ensure a more equitable geographic spread of cultural provision across Scotland. 4.3 The new venue dramatically enhanced arts facilities in the Outer Hebrides. Housed under one roof are a large gallery, with further display areas throughout the building, a 250 seat auditorium with back-stage changing rooms/ green room for performers, education room, large office space, staff room, bar, restaurant, kitchen, reception area and retail facility. The multi-function auditorium is fully equipped to act as a performing arts space, a cinema and a conference venue. Retractable seating and walls enable the space to cater for larger numbers, standing performances, dances and cèilidhs. 4.4 An Lanntair is well supported by the local community and is the most attended visitor attraction in the Outer Hebrides with an ‘estimated, 221,000 visitors to An Lanntair overall in 2015/16’ and an increase on this figure in subsequent years. An Lanntair: Application to Creative Scotland for 3 year regular funding 2018-2021 4.5 The Centre services an immediate population of 12,015 (Stornoway and its environs) with a secondary catchment population of 20,473 (covering Lewis and Harris) these figures represent 45% and 77% of the total Outer Hebrides population respectively. 4.6 An Lanntair provide an annual year round programme of contemporary art exhibitions, performing arts events, film screenings and related education and outreach activity. The organisation’s Mission is “to connect and inspire people in producing extraordinary, creative programmes, uniquely rooted in the place and reflecting the arts and ideas of our time.” 4.7 From an initial staff of 2 job creation placements, An Lanntair has provided stable employment to a significant number of people since 1985. An Lanntair Limited and its trading subsidiary An Lanntair Trading currently employs 49 individuals across the organisation from programmers and curators to hospitality and catering staff. This includes 8 new posts which were created in 2016 -17. In addition to PAYE staff An Lanntair annually generates work for approx. 32 freelance artists based in the Western Isles via the Education, Exhibitions and Performing Arts Programme. Self-employed musicians, visual artists and crafts makers are supported via sales of their work in the An Lanntair shop, the gallery and at performances. Local businesses also benefit from supplying an Lanntair with the resources needed for their catering offer and administration. 4.8 In 2016/17, the most recent full financial year, An Lanntair spent £213,900 directly back into the local economy on local suppliers. In addition to the financial support offered by the Comhairle, the organisation levered in £681,571 in grants from other sources. This additional grant funding makes a significant impact on the Creative Industries sector in the Outer Hebrides and would not otherwise have come to the area. It included Creative Scotland (CS) - £433,333 (Regular Funding); CS £87,227 (Project Funding); Highlands and Islands Enterprise -£20,696; Western Isles NHS Board - £3900, Bord na Gàidhlig - £12,500; Visit Scotland - £15,046; Life Changes Trust - £57,864; Point & Sandwick Trust £10,000; The Baxter Foundation £1,340; Esmee Fairbairn Foundation £25,000; Alzheimers Scotland £3,900; Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project £2000; Inverness Architect’s Association £2,500; Taigh Innse Gall £1000; William Grant Foundation - £10,000 and The Western Isles Architects Group - £9,500. In 2017-18, An Lanntair also led on a major piece of research into the Gaelic Arts, which will bear fruition in 2018.19 4.9 Creative Scotland has acknowledged An Lanntair’s achievements and status by awarding the organisation £1,210,000 in three year Regular Funding for the period to 2018-2021. This releases an average of £403,333 per annum, with no increase on their 3 year Regular Funding Award for the period 2015/18. The bidding process for 3 year Regular Funding by organisations throughout Scotland was extremely competitive. An Lanntair submitted a robust case for continued funding and have been appropriately rewarded. This decision will be of great benefit to the communities they serve for the next 3 years. AWARD WINNING PROGRAMME 5.1 The facilities, staffing levels and provision of stable core funding enable An Lanntair to deliver a wide and varied arts programme which has been recognised with a growing number of awards over the years. 1995 Arts and Tourism Trophy for Calanais: The Atlantic Stones 10th anniversary exhibition, publication and CD 2003 Scottish Arts Council: Innovative Visual Arts Education Award 2007 Traditional Music Venue of the Year 2009 Clore Performing Arts Award for Trumpets to the Sky – a sculpture and music outreach project with children organised in partnership with the Hebridean Celtic Festival. 2010 ABSA award for engaging with Harris Tweed Hebrides 2015 Creative Place Award: Creative Scotland (the result of a partnership bid led by An Lanntair) 2016 Scottish Dementia Awards category for Best Dementia Friendly Community Initiative 2017 Shortlisted for Venue of the Year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 2017 Scottish Gaelic Awards: Alex Macdonald, Head of Performing Arts at An Lanntair won the Arts and Culture Award for the most outstanding contribution to Gaelic Culture in 2016/17 5.2 The ‘Creative Place Award 2015’ has seen An Lanntair working with a diverse partnership of organisations including the Comhairle, Lews Castle College, the Harris Tweed Authority, the Stornoway Port Authority, the Hebridean Celtic Festival, Ionad Hoirt and Outer Hebrides Tourism to deliver the ‘Bealach’ Project over 2015 – 17. ‘Bealach’ sought to represent the Isles of Lewis and Harris as the ‘gateway’ and ‘passage’ into the Gaelic culture, creative communities and landscape of the Outer Hebrides. There have been innovative artist’s residencies; world class Gaelic music and performing arts in intriguing and unusual places; arts trails; curated exhibitions; mentoring support for young emerging artists and programmes of staff development raising the quality of the visitor experience. An Lanntair’s artistic programme throughout 2015/17 was significantly enhanced by the Creative Places Award. 5.3 The Gaelic