The financial position of Glasgow's leading music venues is not sustainable and the venues must change, it was claimed today.

Bridget McConnell, chief of Culture and Sport Glasgow, the arm's-length charity which runs museums, galleries and leisure fac- ilities, said she is optimistic that the planned takeover of the Royal Concert Hall and other venues is a good move.

This week a working group will discuss the possibility of the Hall, the Fruitmarket and the City Halls, now run by Glasgow Cultural Enterprises, being taking over by CSG.

Staff at the venues fear that the venues' artistic successes could be affected by the proposed shake-up.

Glasgow City Coun- cil, which has issued a report saying GCE needed £5.8million in capital investment, has appointed Svend Brown acting artistic director for the venues.