Shetland Arts heard today that they will probably have to wait up to another six months for a final decision from the Scottish Arts Council Capital Lottery Fund with regard to Mareel, the proposed new cinema and music venue.

A spokesperson from the Capital Lottery Committee said that they recognised the ambition and the quality of what is proposed and that they ‘remain very supportive of the project, and are excited by the potential the development represents to the arts in Shetland.’ However, there are a number of elements in the application that they feel need further exploration, and they intend to work with Shetland Arts to address these points in order to help support the project to realise its full potential and deliver the best outcome for Shetland.

Director of Shetland Arts, Gwilym Gibbons, said that it was entirely understandable that the Scottish Arts Council Lottery Committee would want to be completely reassured before finally committing the £2.1 million pounds that has been agreed in principle. “They are anxious that a large capital project like this will not have an adverse effect on the development work of Shetland Arts. We are a foundation funded organisation of the Scottish Arts Council and they want to ensure that our arts development work will continue, and that running the building will complement that work and not hinder or overshadow it.”

Project Officer Kathy Hubbard said “Naturally we are very disappointed that there will be a delay, but I am heartened by the positive comments that they have made, and their stated intention to help us deliver the project to the best of its potential. We can surely wait another six months if it means an even better facility for Shetland in the end. The Committee told us that delays in decision-making are not at all uncommon at this stage, and that was very reassuring.”

The Lottery Committee are also seeking more detail on the range of educational and outreach activities that Mareel will support, and further information on the longer term revenue and programme costs. They are also aware that there is a shortfall of £600,000 for the capital costs of the building, and the delay will give Shetland Arts more time to find funding sources to address this.

The application will be examined by the Committee again early in 2008 before being submitted to the full Council of the SAC for a final decision.