The north’s biggest theatre is seeking to distance itself from Highland Council control after having its funding cut.
Eden Court Theatre in Inverness wants to assert its independence by halving the number of local councillors on its board.
The local authority currently appoints four of the theatre’s 12-strong board, but councillors will next week consider a request to reduce its representation to two.
The theatre and the council have not always seen eye-to-eye in recent years amid reductions in funding and even a threat from Highland Council to withdraw all support.
Eden Court earns about 78% of its annual income, with another 9%, or £500,000, coming from the council and 13%, or £700,000, from Scottish Government agency Creative Scotland.
It provides about 170 jobs, is estimated to be worth £9million a year to the region’s economy, and 340,000 people visit its theatre, cinema and educational events each year.
A report to a full council meeting next week states that Eden Court’s memorandum and articles of association date back to the formation of the company in 1977.
The theatre’s board asked for a review to be carried out of the arrangements and a number of changes have been proposed, including cutting the number of councillors on the board.
It said: “The board considered the level of the council’s representation on the board and agreed to request that the council be asked to reduce the number of elected members appointed as directors from four to two.
“The change is considered to reflect the company’s continuing development, greater reliance on commercial activity and the increased significance of national funding bodies such as Creative Scotland.”
There are currently 12 places on the board, of which four are councillors, one is recommended by the Friends of Eden Court, another is recommended by the Federation of Theatre Unions Scottish Committee, one is the theatre chief executive and the other five are appointed at the board’s discretion.
Last night, Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson said: “I think probably the amount of money we have given them is less than it was in previous years, although it’s still significant.
“However, having said that, it’s for councillors to decide whether to accept the recommendation.”
