Aberdeen Performing Arts Marks 20 Years with Focus on Community Ties
The Ovation Club invites supporters to back Aberdeen’s theatres, festivals, and arts education programmes.
Aberdeen Performing Arts (APA) has anchored the city’s cultural landscape, blending world-class performances with grassroots initiatives for the past two decades. As the charity celebrates its 20th anniversary, it’s launching the Ovation Club—a membership scheme inviting supporters to help sustain its work across venues like His Majesty’s Theatre, the Music Hall, and the Lemon Tree.
APA’s influence extends beyond stages and festivals. Alongside flagship events such as the Granite Noir crime writing festival (20–23 February) and September’s Comedy Festival, the charity runs youth arts programmes, skills workshops, and outreach efforts that widen access to the arts. CEO Sharon Burgess notes, “Our goal is to ensure creativity is accessible to everyone, whether through international acts or local projects that resonate deeply.”
Members receive perks like ticket discounts
The Ovation Club, open to individuals and businesses, aims to strengthen APA’s financial footing while fostering partnerships with those invested in the region’s cultural health. Funds will support venue maintenance, community programmes, and events that contributed £6.5 million to Aberdeen’s economy in 2023. Members receive perks like ticket discounts and behind-the-scenes access, though the emphasis remains on collective impact.
This anniversary arrives amid broader challenges for arts organisations, from shifting audience habits to rising operational costs. APA’s response—prioritising high-profile festivals and hyperlocal engagement—reflects a balancing act familiar to many cultural institutions.
While the Ovation Club is new, APA’s community ethos isn’t. Initiatives like Light the Blue, which spotlights young artists, and free workshops at the Music Hall underscore a longstanding commitment to inclusivity. “It’s about creating spaces where people can connect, learn, and grow,” Burgess adds.
As the charity looks ahead, its anniversary serves as a reminder of art’s role not just as entertainment but as a thread weaving Aberdeen’s past, present, and future. Details about the Ovation Club can be found on the APA website.
