‘It should be protected at all costs’ – Community reacts as Nairn Community and Arts Centre seeks lifeline funding
The Nairn community has expressed its support for the town’s community centre after it was announced that the charity that runs it is hoping to get £50,000 to keep afloat.
On Monday, June 24, Nairn councillors will be deciding on whether to award the amount from the Common Good Fund to help save the Nairn Community and Arts Centre, which has been struggling financially due to the cost of living crisis.
This is to sustain the centre’s activities for the coming months as the board of volunteers is looking at implementing a new recovery plan to keep their activities sustainable.
We asked members of the Nairn community what they thought about the possibility of the centre closing its doors.
“This is dreadful to think about,” commented Judith Isaac.
“So much important stuff is centred here. To lose it would make us a dormitory town and community in name only - if that. What is the next thing? To become a suburb of Inverness? Maybe some kind of appeal would help.”
Tish Joyce added: “It would be a huge loss for all and as a community I’m sure we will all support in any way we can to avoid closure. I’m not sure everyone realises that it’s a charity and hasn’t had funding for years from Highland Council, they rely on grants. The team work so incredibly hard and is open very long hours. I’d like to know how we can help support more as a community and push for more funding.”
Ross Henderson-McKillop stated: “The NCAC is an invaluable facility staffed by some fantastic people. There is absolutely no way it should be allowed to close.
“It provides Nairn not only with a modern, accessible, performance space suited to mid-sized audiences but also the plethora of other rooms and groups and clubs that meet there throughout the year.
“It’s a community hub and should be protected at all costs.”
Organisations and groups using the centre have also responded to the news.
Professor Ronald Skeldon, chair of Nairn Book and Arts Festival – which heavily relies on the space of the centre for its author events and exhibitions – commented: “Nairn Community and Arts Centre is the beating heart of our community – it is impossible to overstate this.
“Nairn Book and Arts Festival has based the majority of its indoor events there for many years now, and simply could not operate at anything like the highly professional level it currently does, should it become necessary for the Centre to close its doors.
“As a large, flexible and well- equipped venue, with a superb team of staff, the festival team – the majority of whom are volunteers – rely on it entirely, and we consider ourselves very fortunate to have such a brilliant facility in Nairn. “The festival would be sadly diminished as an event without it.”
Jeni Herbert, Mellow Yellow, said: ”We have run our classes from the community centre for the past 10 years, supporting many charity and community events throughout that time. We are very lucky in Nairn to have such a great multi-use venue, being able to transform from hall to theatre space to art gallery, nursery or lunch club allows people from all walks of life to use the space.
”We, and the community of Nairn, would be devasted if the centre had to close its doors.
“In a time where funding for, and access to, the arts is being diminished at every turn we must work together to keep the theatre light on!”
Street Struck DANCE also said that this would be a “huge loss” to Nairn, as well as for a lot of local businesses and charities.
They said: “We run our classes and annual shows here and it would be a huge blow to my business if it were to close. This can not be allowed to happen. Massive loss to the Arts and beyond. The staff and facilities are amazing and it’s always so busy.”
However, others members of the community pointed out that funding could be found elsewhere, with other venues receiving much greater contributions from the likes of Creative Scotland.
Emma Louise Greer said: “Yes the community centre should be saved, but we need to ask why it has to come from CG funding. Why is Nairn missing out on government funding? Eden Court for example is heavily funded.
"Eden Court has an agreement with Creative Scotland until 2025 receiving £500,000 a year. In the 2022-23 financial year, it received additional funding of £242,000. It also receives £300,000 a year from Highland Council which is expected to remain the same this financial year.
“If Nairn community centre was supported by council funding then it could provide amenities at a more affordable price for the whole community to use.”
Morag Anderson added: “NC&AC got £32,325 from Creative Scotland last year, compared to the £500,000 a year that Eden Court gets.
“I agree the community centre should be saved, but not with a £50k lump sum from the Common Good Fund.
“Please folks have a look at the Companies House info, the directors report and financial info. Don't just sign over £50,000 of Nairn's money without having the full information to hand.”
