Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama - Teaching staff face jobs cuts

Twenty lecturers are to be made redundant at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. All teaching staff have been asked to consider voluntary redundancy in a bid to save £600,000 a year, but compulsory job cuts have not been ruled out. The performing arts school's budget has been stretched by the 2006 pay award, and it has long complained of underfunding by the Scottish Funding Council. Despite the financial concerns, the academy plans to establish a new dance school in 2009, in collaboration with the Scottish Ballet, and to set up a company with the National Theatre and Scottish Opera.