A NATIONAL campaign to save a vital piece of Dunoon’s heritage was launched last week and now a local businessman is supporting the crowdfunding bid.
Dunoon Burgh Hall, an iconic Victorian landmark has been at the centre of the town’s cultural and community life for 150 years, could close its doors as early as this summer, unless £60,000 is raised to address a funding shortfall.
The Hall’s committee launched a crowdfunding bid last week and local employer Greg Girard, managing director of CX Services, has thrown his weight behind the push to save the building.
Greg said, “Dunoon Burgh Hall has been the cornerstone of the town’s cultural and community life for 150 years, providing countless opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection for people of all ages and walks of life. But sadly, like many arts organisations which rely on funding, it is finding it difficult to operate in the current financial climate.”
He added: “Costs have risen dramatically, and funding is getting harder to come by, which has left the Hall facing a significant shortfall. It urgently needs to raise £60,000 over the next few months or it faces the prospect of closure by the middle of the year.”
The B-listed hall, designed by architect Robert Alexander Bryden in 1873, boasts a rich history. From its early days as the first theatre in Argyll to its later use as council offices, the hall has served the people of Dunoon in countless ways. Its most striking feature, a circular stained-glass window depicting a Viking by James Ballantine. Refurbished in 2017, the hall now serves as a creative hub, hosting exhibitions, performances, and workshops, with a garden, gallery and cafe.
Christina McKenzie, newly elected chair of the Burgh Hall said: “We’ve already started work on a long-term strategy to revitalise the hall so it can better serve our community, but without immediate financial help, we may not get the chance to deliver it. Dunoon Burgh Hall has the potential to be the beating heart of our town once more – we just need to navigate this shortfall.”
