Birnam Arts
Crisis Recovery support for Birnam Arts
“Without Community Enterprise’s support, I don’t know if we’d be here. It’s really felt very knife edge at times, so I’d say the support both mental as well as practical has been really important.
We’re not out of the woods but we’re still going – and we’re very aware of how many organisations are closing at the moment, so just keeping going really feels like a result.
For other organisations facing crisis, I’d say push the Crisis Recovery button on the website – just ask for the help. The sooner you ask for help, the better.”
- Sally Robertson, Project lead of Birnam Arts Review
Background
Birnam Arts is a well-loved community‑owned arts centre in Dunkeld and Birnam that provides recreational facilities and delivers a wide‑ranging arts programme to promote arts, culture, heritage and science to enrich the lives of local people. In early 2025, the organisation faced an imminent risk of closure.
Following a prolonged period of financial instability and significant debt, Birnam Arts required urgent, expert support to stabilise its cash flow and find a sustainable way forward.
Seeking immediate help, the organisation 'pushed the Crisis Recovery button' and began working with Victoria Pearce, Crisis and Resilience Lead, to review their options and agree on vital next steps.
How we helped
While our initial scoping confirmed the organisation was in a critical position, it also showed that recovery may be possible with urgent intervention.
To support this, Birnam Arts was awarded a £27,000 Crisis Recovery grant. This funding allowed the centre to stay open while navigating their transition and strengthening their operations and governance.
The grant covered core costs and helped boost their income generation by funding a part-time Commercial Manager and marketing costs. Most crucially, it also funded a part-time Transformation Manager to lead their review and recovery.
The result
Thanks to the Crisis Recovery service, Birnam Arts were able to implement a Transition Programme which started with a six-month stabilisation phase focused on consultation, tightening financial management and aligning the board and staff around a shared vision.
As a result, the organisation secured £117,000 in additional funding, their operational controls have been strengthened and cost savings have been generated.
The team has moved into Phase 2, implementing a new operating model that prioritises community demand and income generation.
Today, Birnam Arts are still on a transitional journey, but thanks to their Crisis Recovery support they have moved from immediate risk of closure to greater stability, renewed confidence and a clear focus on what comes next.
Crisis Recovery service
If you're concerned about your organisation's sustainability,
please contact our Crisis Recovery service today
and a member of our team will get in touch as soon as possible.