Politicians back £3m arts funding

The Scottish Arts Council described the centre as a "world-class facility"

Councillors in Aberdeen have voted to give a new arts centre £3m in funding.

The Scottish Arts Council had already committed funds for the £13m Peacock Arts venture in Union Terrace Gardens.

BBC Scotland had revealed that Aberdeen Council accountants had described it as a "financial risk" at the current time, amid efforts to make savings of £50m.

But councillors voted to approve the funding, a decision welcomed by Peacock Arts but criticised by a disabled project facing council funding cuts.

The Scottish Arts Council described the contemporary arts centre as a "world-class facility".

It could attract about 200,000 visitors a year and bring an estimated £5m annually into the local economy.

The committee agreed that the £3m grant would be capped at that level.

Members also agreed that no bridging finance would be awarded and that the city council would not underwrite the £4.5m that Peacock needs to raise for the scheme by their own fundraising efforts.