Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre is celebrating a significant new funding partnership with The William Syson Foundation that is donating £45,000 per year over three years to the pioneering Participate programme.
The Foundation has introduced a new strategic programme of Core Support Grants for selected Scottish arts and cultural organisations and this award to the Citizens Theatre is its inaugural grant under the new programme. In making this multi-year grant, the Foundation embarks on a ground-breaking partnership that will allow the Citizens Theatre to build on the success of its renowned and extensive community engagement work.
The Foundation has previously supported the work of the Citizens’ with learning disabled adults and children and this latest support builds on the relationship first established in 2019. The funding comes at a key moment for the Citizens’, as it prepares to return to its Gorbals home in 2025 following a major redevelopment. The Participate programme will be integral to bringing the renovated building to life, ensuring the Citizens’ continues to be a cultural and civic hub for all.
Over the next three years, the Citizens Theatre will develop pivotal new programmes, engaging with people who might never have considered involvement in the arts and forging new paths as a theatre at the forefront of social inclusion. Participate projects during this time will focus on the four key areas of Adults; Young people; Education and Community residencies. For participants, this work has many benefits including increased confidence and skills development, improved mental health and reduced isolation providing a source of satisfaction for those involved.
Citizens Theatre Head of Creative Learning, Catrin Evans said “Embarking on a new chapter in our community programming at the Citizens is made that much more exciting by our renewed and expanded funding partnership with the William Syson Foundation. It is unique for a funder to commit to support our work across all 5 strands – which demonstrates a trust in our approach and a belief in the inherent value of the arts. Building partnerships with the William Syson Foundation over multiple years will enrich our work beyond measure and benefit the many groups we operate within, and out with the Citz.”
Chair of The William Syson Foundation Jonathan Syson comments “The William Syson Foundation is delighted to be partnering with the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow to support its outstanding community and participatory engagement. The multi-year Core Support Grant to the Citizens Theatre is the Foundation’s first such award. The Grant forms an integral part of its strategic drive to provide significant core support to arts and cultural organisations in Scotland in order to help sustain their vital work and to widen arts and cultural participation and enjoyment for all.
The Foundation recognises The Citizens Theatre as a cultural institution of national significance in and for Scotland. The Citizens Theatre combines high-quality artistic development and world-renowned onstage performance with exceptional community engagement to deliver demonstrable public benefit. This, in turn, provides the Foundation with confidence in making a sizeable, multi-year Core Support Grant.
The William Syson Foundation looks forward to working with the Citizens Theatre in the years to come and wishes it ongoing success as it moves towards re-opening in 2025.”
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 