As a town that’s been made the butt of too many jokes, Cumbernauld has always had one thing to be proud of. For decades its theatre, initially housed in a small row of cottages near the new town’s original village, has been a home to the arts, in the widest sense.
Cumbernauld Theatre couldn’t be further from the idea of ‘theatre’ being about dusty-but–grand old Victorian halls hosting stuffy run-throughs of Shakespeare and an annual pantomime. Since its inception it’s always been more than that – a comedy club, a music venue, home to drama clubs and community groups – as well as a place for live Scottish theatre.
In recent years it’s moved to more modern premises, the Lanternhouse, where it’s continued to be at the centre of the community, and increasing what it offers by expanding to also become the town’s cinema, its programme bringing the latest movies – along with international streaming events – to the big screen.
It’s grown slowly and carefully over the years, and adapted to the needs of a community of over 50,000 people, involving them in ways that more prestigious arts venues would struggle to do. Meanwhile, it continues to offer the opportunity to see live theatre, comedy nights and live music, as well as hosting workshops and learning opportunities and a home for groups and activities.
The Lighthouse has become something of a beacon in the community, a town of over 50,000 people, many of whom would have little interaction with the arts venues of Edinburgh or Glasgow. Like most of Scotland’s towns, Cumbernauld has struggled as a consequence of the economic downturn and for many residents, the packed arts diaries of Glasgow or Edinburgh might as well be as inaccessible were they held in London or New York.
Which makes the decision by Creative Scotland to discontinue its funding all the more bewildering. The theatre had applied for multi-year funding that would have secured its position, but was turned down despite being the only regularly-funded organisation that had its multi-year application rejected. Creative Scotland had been given more money from the Scottish Government to allocate to the arts, allowing them to back 251 different organisations with multi-year funding and another 14 with a development fund.
The theatre relies on its current Creative Scotland funding of over £266,000, a year, which will end in April. The consequence is that it could mean the establishment facing the final curtain, with the loss of 44 jobs and a massive wider impact on the community.
But there is some hope. The theatre may yet be able to secure alternative support from Creative Scotland, and political voices are being raised in support of the venue.
An online petition ( https://www.change.org/p/save-cumbernauld-theatre-s-future ) has already seen over 5,000 signatures in a matter of days.
While some might see the arts as a luxury in times of economic trouble, when tough decisions have to be made about resources, but it’s worth remembering that it’s the arts that often make it possible for people to get through difficult times.
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