A musician in a top ceilidh band is pledging to invest £10,000 of his own savings if Peacock Contemporary Arts wins the chance to build a new centre in Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens.
Council worker Alasdair Johnston acknowledged his gesture was not on the same scale as Sir Ian Wood’s offer to sink £50million of his own cash into a rival bid for a city square on the same site.
But the father-of-three said the donation – an inheritance from his late mother – was every bit as heartfelt as Sir Ian’s.
Mr Johnston, guitarist and dance caller for the Clachan Yell ceilidh band, earns £22,000 a year as an adult literacy worker, while the Wood Group chairman’s worth was put at £747million last year, making him Scotland’s second wealthiest man.
“This £10,000 is probably a bigger part of my disposable income than all Sir Ian’s millions, so it’s just as meaningful to me,” said Mr Johnston.
The 48-year-old said he had worked with Peacock in the past to put on courses in photography and printing for people with learning difficulties or are from disadvantaged backgrounds, and he was confident the organisation would put his money to good use.
“They have always been absolutely wonderful,” he said.
“Their centre would bring 72 jobs, give Aberdeen a beautiful building and let us keep the gardens.
“I don’t want to knock Sir Ian. He’s an iconic figure and he’s done a lot for this area but if he prevents the Peacock Visual Arts scheme from going ahead he will be doing a great disservice to Aberdeen.”
Mr Johnston, of Grampian Place, Aberdeen, made his offer after being part of the 300-strong audience at a public meeting organised by the city’s Labour MPs and MSP, in Aberdeen’s Citadel on Thursday evening.
Representatives of Peacock and Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (Acsef) presented their competing plans for the site and answered questions from members of the public on what they believed they could achieve and their failure to reach a compromise.
Peacock had planning permission and 75% of its funding in place for a £13million contemporary arts centre built into the slope of the gardens when Sir Ian announced his proposal for a city square.
Acsef, which is holding a two-month consultation on the £140million city square project, says there would be space for an arts centre within its scheme, as well as green spaces, sculptures, cafes and attractions, but Peacock’s funding is time-limited and specific to its own design.
Peacock campaign director, Elly Rothnie, said she was “overwhelmed” by Mr Johnston’s support.
“I met him for the first time on Thursday night and he confirmed it in writing the following morning,” she said. “It’s incredibly generous of him and we’re very touched.”