Scottish Borders Local Association

It's curtains for St Andrew's as schools' art centre to close in June

Published Date: 18 December 2008

By Andrew Keddie

THE region's only publicly-owned arts centre for schoolchildren is to close in June next year.

That recommendation by education officials as part of the wide-reaching Transforming Children's Services project is due to be ratified by Scottish Borders Council today.

And the move to bring the curtain down on the St Andrew's Arts Centre in the town's Bridge Street will be supported by Councillor Graham Garvie, executive member for culture, who last month expressed "surprise" the closure had been included in the extensive TCS consultation which ended six weeks ago.

The facility, which opened 20 years ago, hosts classes in art, dance, drama and music for more than 2,000 visiting pupils aged seven to 12 every year. The tuition supports the curriculum and is delivered by specialist teachers.

Today's report anticipates the facility's services should instead be provided in each of the six learning communities, replacing the traditional catchment areas of the nine secondary schools.

"I admit I was originally concerned and surprised that the closure was part of the TCS programme, but I now believe it is the best way forward for this council and the pupils we serve," said the Lib Dem councillor for Tweeddale East yesterday. "The curricular arts would better be served if they were provided in locations across the region and this decision reflects the importance with which the council regards the creative elements of our services to young people.

"This is a decision driven by a need to provide the highest quality of educational experiences as locally as possible."

Thus, services offered by the St Andrew's Art Centre will, from June next year, be provided in high schools and other local community venues.

TheSouthern understands the bulk of curricular arts for the central Borders will be provided at the new Earlston High School and that all equipment, materials and costumes held in the St Andrew's Art Centre will be offered to schools across the Borders.

"The professional teaching staff who use the centre will be integrated within our schools and those based solely in Galashiels will be offered the opportunity for redeployment through the council's priority interview scheme," said Mr Garvie.

"We already give financial support to private theatres, such as the Eastgate in Peebles and Tower Mill in Hawick, so we cannot be accused of ignoring or sidelining the arts."

One source, representing a group using the centre, said the closure was a "travesty".

"Those involved in the centre feel unable to speak out publicly, but I know the consensus is that this is a money-saving exercise and the centre will be sold off."

Purchased from the Church of Scotland for a bargain price in the 1980s by the former regional council, St Andrew's Arts Centre provides around 100 teaching class days in art, drama, music and dance. <br>It hosts special projects and lends out stage lighting, props, costumes and sound-mixing equipment to primary schools.

It provides workshop space and storage for equipment currently deployed in schools as well as rehearsal space for Borders Youth Theatre (BYT), Borders Youth Musicians and a range of voluntary groups.

It is also the venue of Easter, summer and autumn holiday projects for young people.

The TCS report acknowledges years of under-funding on community services in the Borders compared to the rest of Scotland. The annual spend on the arts here is £2.69 per head of population (£8 across Scotland).

Mr Garvie: “What we propose will offer a new, integrated and sustainable basis for curricular arts provision, augmenting the activities already carried out in our schools.”

Borders-wide initiatives, such as the Saturday Morning Orchestra, which is supported through the use of the St Andrew’s Arts Centre, will, said Mr Garvie, continue elsewhere.

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