Six board members stand down as Horsecross Arts’ problems continue

The troubled organisation that runs Perth Theatre and the city’s Concert Hall is reeling once again following news that much of its board has quit.

Horsecross Arts has taken blow after blow in recent days, beginning with the announcement that chief executive Jacqueline McKay was set to resign after just a year in the post.

The revelation was swiftly followed by news that the city’s two arts venues were staring into a financial abyss, with a £500,000 hole in finances.

Such is the concern that it’s believed some money may need to be saved from the £14.5 million budget for the renovation of Perth Theatre, which is set to close for two years from January 2014.

Now it has emerged that six members of the Horsecross Arts Board have tendered their resignations in a move that has stunned their colleagues.

A spokeswoman for Horsecross said: “There are three remaining members of the board, plus our new chairman Magnus Linklater, and we are in the process of recruiting new board members.”

For more on this story, including reaction, see Thursday’s Courier or try our digital edition.