Funding Allocations of the National Companies
Information about the revenue grant funding allocated to each of the five national performing companies is provided in the table below. These figures represent core revenue funding and do not include any one off amounts.
In 2006-07 the companies were funded by the Scottish Arts Council. In April 2007, the companies moved to a direct funding relationship with the Scottish Government which took the opportunity to review the companies' funding in detail in order to determine allocations for 2008-09 onwards The national performing companies are rightly feted for the quality of their work. For 2008-09, the Scottish Government awarded each of the companies an increase of 2% on their 2007/08 grants in recognition of their significant artistic successes over the last year. This funding is intended to allow the companies to consolidate and build on their achievements to date. Further increases of 2% were agreed for 2009-10. The Scottish Government planned a further increase of 2% for the companies in 2010-11 but following cuts to the overall Scottish Government budget the planned increase has been reduced to 1%.
The funding will continue to enable all the companies to continue to produce artistic activity of the highest quality for audiences at home and abroad.
COMPANY | 2006/07 (£m) | 2007/08 (£m) | % increase on 06/07 | 2008/09 (£m) | % increase on 07/08 | 2009/10 (£m) | % increase on 08/09 | Planned 2010/11 (£m) | % increase on 09/10 |
Royal Scottish National Orchestra | 2.95 | 3.78 | 28 | 4.19 | 11 | 4.27 | 2 | 4.32 | 1 |
National Theatre of Scotland | 4.00 | 4.10 | 2.5 | 4.38 | 7 | 4.49 | 2 | 4.55 | 1 |
Scottish Chamber Orchestra | 1.66 | 2.05 | 24 | 2.10 | 2.5 | 2.14 | 2 | 2.17 | 1 |
Scottish Ballet | 3.60 | 4.53 | 26 | 4.63 | 2 | 4.71 | 2 | 4.76 | 1 |
Scottish Opera | 7.90 | 8.29 | 5 | 8.46 | 2 | 8.63 | 2 | 8.71 | 1 |
|
Total | 20.11 | 22.75 | | 23.76 | | 24.24 | | 24.51 | |
In addition, resources of £350,000 have been made available to the companies each year to assist with their international touring plans The Government wishes to see the national companies continue to flourish and bring work of an international standard to audiences at home and abroad.
Scottish Ballet
Funded by the Scottish Government the ballet tours throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK with visits to mainland Europe. The Company provides a huge variety of education initiatives and dance classes including:
- working with children with special needs
- running its own Associate Programme which encourages aspiring young dancers to train for a career in the industry
- the Company is also linked with the Dance School of Scotland in Glasgow
Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera is Scotland's national opera company and the largest performing arts organisation in Scotland, committed to bringing the widest range of opera, performed to the highest standards, to the maximum audience throughout Scotland and the UK. Scottish Opera constantly seeks to maintain and extend its audience and develop new relationships with the business community.
Scottish Opera is committed to delivering socially inclusive outreach and education work that will benefit communities throughout Scotland; both through the activities of its education unit, and through a wide range of initiatives undertaken in partnerships with sponsors and local authorities.
Scottish Opera performs main-scale operas at venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness, together with smaller-scale performances and concerts in smaller venues across Scotland not always served by other professional opera companies.
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, funded by the Executive, is one of Europe's leading symphony orchestras. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company was awarded the Royal Patronage in 1991.
The Orchestra appears regularly at the Edinburgh International Festival, the BBC Proms in London and in recent years has toured Austria, Croatia and Spain. Committed to performing to the highest standard, the RSNO's award-winning education programme continues to develop musical talent and appreciation with people of all ages and abilities throughout Scotland.
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Scotland's national chamber orchestra, formed in 1974 with a commitment to serve the Scottish community, is one of Scotland's foremost cultural ambassadors, and is funded by the Government.
The Orchestra is internationally recognised for its innovative approach to music-making and programme planning, and tours regularly in the Far East, Europe and the USA. It appears regularly at the Edinburgh International Festival, the BBC Proms and the St Magnus (Orkney) and Aldeburgh Festivals.
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) has led the way in music education, with a unique programme of projects. SCO Education provides workshops for children and adults across Scotland and has also attracted interest and invitations from overseas.
National Theatre of Scotland
The National Theatre of Scotland, funded by the Government, is Scotland's first ever National Theatre. Working with the best Scottish actors, directors and theatre companies, the National Theatre tours across Scotland and internationally.
The National Theatre showcases a diverse and ambitious programme, producing 28 shows in 62 locations in its first 12 months . At the end of January 2007, their production of Gregory Burke's Iraq war drama, Black Watch, scooped the prestigious South Bank Show award for theatre.