Eden Court in Inverness is cutting 10% of its workforce and reducing its opening hours by 20% to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, the arts organisation announced today.
At the same time, it is introducing low-income cinema and theatre ticket prices to help people access the arts and has also signed up to the Warm Welcome campaign to offer people a warm space during the harsh winter months.
The venue’s bosses said Eden Court faces enormous financial pressures due to significantly increased operating costs and lower ticket sales revenues – an issue faced across the arts sector.
Don Robertson, chair of Eden Court’s board of directors, said: “Through these actions and with the continued support of our audiences, staff and funders we believe that we can secure the future of this vital and highly-valued Highland asset.”
Eden Court opening hours will be cut from January 9
With staff costs accounting for 50% of expenditure, the workforce of 143 would be reduced by about 10% having undergone a compulsory redundancy process, said Eden Court, which is a registered charity.
Also, the building opening hours would be reduced by 20% from January 9. It will open an hour later from Wednesday to Sunday, at 11am and from 4pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. The venue said it would allow Eden Court to stay open as a community space seven days a week.
Chief executive Rebecca Holt said: “Eden Court, along with many others in the UK theatre sector, is facing significant financial challenges.
“In order to protect Eden Court to best serve artists, audiences and our community into the future and to ensure its financial stability, we have carried out a detailed financial modelling process looking at every area of the organisation, which regrettably has included staff roles.”
“The team here at Eden Court is incredibly creative, kind and hard-working. Whilst we’ve been able to preserve the majority of jobs, any redundancy is painful and my sincere thanks and respect goes to all the team for their grace and understanding in this difficult time.”
Eden Court brings in low-income tickets to help people access arts
Measures to help audiences include a new low-income cinema ticket price of £5.50 for those who feel standard prices are unaffordable to them. It will be on a no-questions-asked trust basis.
A similar ticket, also £5.50, will be offered for most OneTouch Theatre performances, limited to an allocated number of tickets per performance.
Joining the Warm Welcome campaign will allow people to use Eden Court as a space to study, read, get warm or just be with others, said the venue.
Rebecca said: “We are proud of the vital role that Eden Court played for so many through the pandemic, operating as a humanitarian aid centre, and we once again want to ensure that we can be a place of solace, relief and escapism during this crisis.
“Not just for audiences but for artists too. We hope that the initiatives we have announced today will keep our building bustling and allow a little relief for as many as possible this winter.”
The venue said that despite its difficulties it will continue to present a thriving live performance programme with many fantastic shows to look forward to in 2023.
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