MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Claire Baker, has again urged the Scottish Government to ensure sufficient support is in place across the creative sector in light of the coronavirus crisis, calling for a Creative Arts Recovery package to be provided including support for the performance sector.

During questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture, Fiona Hyslop, Claire Baker said: “The Lyceum Theatre and Pitlochry Theatre are proposing redundancies and many theatres are cancelling their Christmas programmes, which is often a financial lifeline.

"I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary has met with the Scottish Theatres Federation recently… will [the Cabinet Secretary] commit to work with others to deliver a medium and long term creative arts recovery package for the performance sector, recognising the challenges that it faces that are longer lasting and potentially devastating.”

The Lochgelly Centre, run by the Fife Cultural Trust, is not scheduled to re-open to spring 2021 due to coronavirus.

The exchange follows publication of an Oxford Economics report, commissioned by the Creative Industries Federation, that highlights the expected impact of COVID-19 on the UK Creative Industries.

Claire Baker MSP added: “What this report highlights is the devastating impact the COVID-19 crisis has had on the cultural sector in Scotland, with it being the hardest hit area in the UK, and that Scottish respondents are among the most pessimistic in their view of potential recovery. "That is why I have called for a Creative Arts Recovery Package. Without Scottish Government intervention, the industry will continue to decline and thousands of jobs will be lost”.