Dunoon’s Burgh Hall – the area’s premier cultural centre – is struggling.
However, rumours last week of its demise were premature.
We understand that the hall’s trustees gave consideration to a proposal to close the venue’s doors from January 1 but – ultimately, and to the great relief of the 11 dedicated people employed there – the decision was taken to fight on as long as possible.
In a statement to this newspaper (See below) Burgh Hall Trust chair Bruce Marshall said: “Unfortunately, the Board of Trustees must now make difficult decisions to protect the long-term future of the hall.
“Trustees and staff are meeting daily to explore all possible options and avenues of funding and support to keep the hall open.
“Trustees and staff alike are totally committed to keeping this wonderful iconic building in the heart of the town, alive and viable and we will continue to seek more reliable sources of funding, explore new partnerships, and plan strategically to build resilience for the next seven years and onward.”
Mr Marshall then goes on to appeal for help from the public for new streams of funding to keep the doors open.
The Burgh Hall has seen some notable exhibitions and performances in the eight years since it re-opened, and has become home to a number of community arts and performance groups.
The 1874 listed building, reputedly the first theatre in Argyll, had fallen into disrepair and lay unused for decades.
It was bought by the John McAslan Family Trust for £1 in 2008, despite Argyll and Bute Council’s proposal to demolish it for housing.
The trust began the renovation project working alongside a local community group and has received more than £3.5M from charitable donations and funding awards.
The future looked rosy in June 2017 when then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon officially opened the hall as a significant Andy Warhol exhibition hung in its gallery.
Ms Sturgeon told this newspaper after the opening: “The renovation and reopening of Dunoon Burgh Hall is a result of the hard work and determination of the community to restore the building to its former glory and to provide a socially-important cultural centre for the town and beyond.”
She added: “The hall will be a fantastic asset to Dunoon and the wider area, and will be enjoyed by both locals and visitors for generations to come.”
Let’s hope she was correct…
STATEMENT
Dunoon Burgh Hall update
Editor, – After celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2024, Dunoon Burgh Hall’s future now looks uncertain, and this vital community and cultural resource is tragically under threat.
Our much-loved Victorian Burgh Hall has been an asset to our town and our community since it opened its doors in 1874. After sadly falling into disrepair, the building was saved from demolition by the community who worked with the McAslan Family Trust to purchase it for a token £1 in 2008. After significant refurbishment, it re-opened as a community arts hub in 2017.
Today, the Burgh Hall sits at the heart of the community; a place for everyone to meet, to share, to laugh and cry, to entertain and to be entertained, to teach, to learn, and to belong.
We are proud of our record of bringing high quality art exhibitions and performances into our spaces for everyone to enjoy, from the youngest child to the most elderly visitor.
Our community projects bring vital creative opportunities to disadvantaged young people and vulnerable adults alike. Our recent Odyssey project ran for nine months enabling 60 local young people to work with local artists and learn new skills in visual arts, design, dance, movement and film making, which increased their confidence and wellbeing. Our Creative Blethers project has been running regularly for three years, welcoming elderly people, people with dementia, learning difficulties, or mental health issues into the hall to enjoy art workshops, live music and film screenings to boost their wellbeing and sense of belonging.
The Burgh Hall is also the home of YouthSTUFF, an inclusive community youth theatre group for 9 – 16-year-olds. The Burgh Hall has supported and nurtured this group for many years and 30 young people meet weekly in our hall, learning performance and teamwork skills while increasing their confidence.
We believe that the arts and culture are for everyone, and we are committed to providing a creative hub for the community of Dunoon for generations to come.
However, like many arts organisations, we are struggling to survive in the current financial climate. The Covid pandemic, followed by the cost-of-living crisis has taken a heavy toll and our running costs have increased across the board. There is less funding available for the arts and more organisations chasing it than ever before.
Creative Scotland, previously a key funder of the charity, has itself had its funding reduced by the Scottish Government. As a result, we have received no Creative Scotland subsidy for two years. Meanwhile, other potential funding sources, such as charitable foundations and trusts are also heavily oversubscribed. The team has worked tirelessly to seek alternative funding to continue our creative programme and remain a hub in the heart of our community. Jenny Hunter, our fundraiser, has brought in £110k this year mainly restricted funding to the charity, this is added value to the local economy and plays an important part to the offering to tourists and visitors to the area and creates employment opportunities.
I wish to mention also that the hall is indebted to the many volunteers who have worked so hard over the past seven years to add value to our offering.
Unfortunately, the Board of Trustees must now make difficult decisions to protect the long-term future of the hall. Trustees and staff are meeting daily to explore all possible options and avenues of funding and support to keep the hall open. Trustees and staff alike are totally committed to keeping this wonderful iconic building in the heart of the town, alive and viable and we will continue to seek more reliable sources of funding, explore new partnerships, and plan strategically to build resilience for the next seven years and onward.
We need your help.
Due to the lack of funding to our charity, we need to diversify our fundraising efforts to increase donations etc.
If anyone feels they can support the Hall please contact [email protected]
2025 will undoubtedly be challenging for our organisation, but we will keep you, our community, updated on any significant developments.
Bruce Marshall,
Chairman,
Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust
