Glasgow Royal Concert Hall among city venues saved by takeover

Dec 3 2009 By Lauren Crooks

Royal Concert Hall

COUNCILLORS have stepped in to rescue Glasgow arts venues.

The future of the Royal Concert Hall, the City Halls and the Old Fruitmarket was hanging in the balance because of financial difficulties caused by essential repair work.

But now the council has moved to help Glasgow Cultural Enterprises, which operates the buildings.

GCE will now be owned and managed by Culture and Sport Glasgow, the council's culture body.

Councillors were told that that the need for annual repairs totalling around £2million were putting pressure on GCE.

A report highlighted the potential to put the venues on a more steady financial footing by placing them under the control of Culture and Sport Glasgow.

It also recommended that a group, led by the council, should be set up to develop a business plan.

The move is expected to generate savings of £858,000 - with a large amount earmarked for the essential repairs.

Bailie Jean McFadden said: "It is clear that without the council's rescue plan the future of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, City Halls and the Old Fruitmarket would have been inserious jeopardy."