News / Support for the Garrison
THE FUTURE of the Garrison Theatre in Lerwick has been secured until at least 2020 after owner Shetland Charitable Trust confirmed its continued financial support.
A special group, The Friends of the Garrison, will meanwhile be created to explore ownership, management and funding models to secure the long-term future of the 112-year-old, 280-seat theatre which is managed by Shetland Arts.
These developments follow on from the work carried out by a steering group formed last year when it became apparent that the future of the theatre could be in doubt as a result of reduced public funding.
Islesburgh Drama Group is one of the regular users of the venue and president Martin Summers said: “We will continue to work with both Shetland Arts and the charitable trust to secure a sustainable legacy for our wonderful theatre of generations to come.”
The aims of The Friends of the Garrison group will be to:
• Work with Shetland Arts to provide a range of volunteering opportunities to increase community involvement;
• Act as a sounding board for new pricing models for the hire of the Garrison that will enable Shetland Arts to invest in the development of drama for the benefit of the whole of Shetland;
• Develop a strategy for expanding and diversifying the use of the Garrison.
The steering group commissioned a survey in late 2016 and the results, together with details of the new volunteering opportunities and The Friends of The Garrison group, will be published in the near future.
Shetland Charitable Trust chairman Bobby Hunter said: “Trustees were very clear that funding for maintenance of the building should continue, while the new group builds upon the excellent work of the steering group.
“It’s evident that there is a lot of support for the Garrison in the community, and I believe the way forward is for the community to take a greater stake in its operation and management.”
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