Bellshill and Motherwell venues given cash in rescue package

This welcome boost comes courtesy of Creative Scotland’s Performing Arts Relief Fund and will be shared with just one other venue in the authority area, namely Airdrie Town Hall.

Directed at venues that cannot open because of the Coronavirus crisis, the funding is aimed at removing the threat of redundancies and insolvency at the end of the financial year.

It is also hoped that the cash will allow the venues to start operating even on a behind the scenes basis, as soon as it is judged safe to do so when lockdown eases.

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland, said: “Despite the ongoing, detrimental impact that the Covid-19 pandemic is having on Scotland’s performing arts venues, and on culture as a whole, it is positive that we can offer some funding to help venues navigate these extremely challenging times.

“I’m also encouraged to see that this funding will help venues across many different parts of Scotland where they form such an important part of the cultural life of local communities.”

Meanwhile, there is another welcome development in Bellshill Cultural Centre.

It has emerged that Culture NL opted to re-open its library yesterday (Tuesday).

The facility was just one of two to re-launch in the latest phase of re-openings – with the remaining branch being located in the northern part of the authority up in Kilsyth.