Date: 21 June 2010 BROCKLEBANK SEEKS REVERSAL OF BYRE THEATRE DECISION Mid Scotland and Fife MSP and Scottish Conservative Shadow Culture Minister, Ted Brocklebank, has expressed dismay at plans by Creative Scotland, the successor to the Scottish Arts Council, to cut funding to the Byre Theatre in St Andrews.
Mr Brocklebank said,
'I have today written to the Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, Andrew Dixon, expressing my concern at reports that it has decided to cut flexible funding for the Byre from next year.
'As a former board director of the Byre and Culture Spokesman for my Party, as well as being a resident of St Andrews, I find it hard to credit that among the first acts of Scotland’s new arts supreme body should be the axing of funding to one of Scotland’s most important regional theatres.
'It was only a matter of weeks ago that I was arguing in Parliament for more powers for Creative Scotland. Its decision on the Byre makes my efforts look misguided in the extreme. Far from removing all funding I would have been pressing that Creative Scotland restore core funding status to the Byre to allow it to carry on with the vital cultural work it is doing in this part of Scotland.
'I do wonder if Creative Scotland has been briefed on the Byre’s remarkable contribution to Scottish arts. This unique little theatre was set up by local St.Andreans in a cowshed in the late 30s. Since then, with support from Fife Council, the Arts Council but largely from local people, it has developed into a fine state of the art theatre with a worldwide reputation.
'With the withdrawal of 20% of its overall funding and question marks over continuing funding from Fife Council the Byre now faces an extremely uncertain future.
'I am seeking an urgent meeting with Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop as well as a meeting with Mr Dixon to see how this decision might be reversed.' | 
