Aberdeen Arts Centre isn’t just a building. It’s a beating heart in the city’s creative life – and now, it needs our help.
Today, the venue launched a £660,000 fundraising appeal to secure its future, under the banner “Save Aberdeen Arts Centre.” The goal? To raise enough over the next three years to keep the Centre open, vibrant, and accessible to all – starting with an urgent £180,000 target by July 1, 2025.
For decades, the Arts Centre has been a home for community and professional theatre, for learning and expression, and for those taking their very first steps on stage. It’s where people fall in love with performing – and, more often than not, find themselves in the process.
I know I did.
My directorial debut at Aberdeen Arts Centre in 2022 – the Scottish amateur premiere of Be More Chill with ‘Treading The Boards’.
Like so many in the north east, my journey in the arts was shaped by the shows I saw and the ones I performed in at Aberdeen Arts Centre. I remember the thrill of stepping onto that stage, the buzz backstage, and the friendships formed under those lights. Whether you’ve performed here, seen a friend or family member shine in a show, or simply sat in the audience and felt the magic – chances are, this place has touched your life too.
That’s exactly what programming and creative director Eve Nicol speaks to when she says,
“Everywhere I go in Aberdeen, I meet people whose lives have been changed by this place… it’s not just about stepping on stage. It’s about teamwork, resilience, self-confidence – the skills you carry for life.”
This campaign is backed by big names – including Brian Cox, Laura Main, Amy Lennox, Jon S. Baird, Dame Evelyn Glennie and more – but the most important support it needs is from us. If everyone who attended a show last year gave just £11.25, we’d hit the July target.
Hundreds of venue users, performers, volunteers and staff – past and present – gathered to show their support for Aberdeen Arts Centre as it launched its fundraising campaign.
Without this funding, the Arts Centre could close. And that would be a devastating loss for future generations of performers, creators, and audience members. There is simply no other venue in Aberdeen that offers the same combination of size, affordability, inclusivity, and community spirit.
Chair of the Board, Sharon Robertson, puts it plainly:
“We’ve been a lifeline for local artists and performers for over 60 years. But now we need your help. Every donation, big or small, keeps culture alive in this city.”
A public meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 27 at 6.30pm in the venue. It’s open to anyone who wants to understand more or get involved. You can register your interest here.
We’ve been here before. In 1998, a campaign led by the legendary Annie Inglis saved the Centre from closure. She gathered 14,500 signatures and rallied the community. Now, it’s our turn to do the same.
This isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about memories, opportunities, and the magic that happens when people are given a stage to tell their stories. Let’s not lose it.
You can donate to the campaign now at justgiving.com/campaign/saveaberdeenartscentre.
More information is available at aberdeenartscentre.com or by following @AberdeenArtsCentre on social media.
Let’s stand together for the Arts Centre – for our past, our present, and our creative future.
Written by Hannah Cook.
Theatre Scotland 