Shadow Culture Minister Foysol Choudhury MSP has set out his vision for a culture recovery as the Holyrood Parliament returns next week.
Whilst welcoming the recent announcement from the Scottish Government on additional funding, Foysol Choudhury said that a number of small community culture groups across Scotland were still struggling to gain access to crucial sources of finance.
Mr Choudhury also said that Scotland’s gets a big return for the small for a small investment and urges more investment in the sector.
Shadow Culture Minister Foysol Choudhury MSP said: ‘’Parliament returns after the Christmas break on Monday and there can be no doubt, as the omicron continues to spread, our Culture sector needs help more than ever.
“The arts and culture sector needs a long-term recovery plan that’ll respond and support the sector. It was one of the first to shut and will be among the last to fully open.
“People’s livelihoods have been decimated and too many have fallen through the cracks.
“Whilst the Government has announced funding which is welcomed, many are still facing barriers to gaining access to funding, particularly from our smaller, community cultural groups.
“We need to better recognise the role our cultural and creative industries have in contributing to our economy and society. Not many will know that just 0.2% of the Scottish budget is spent on culture. Scotland gets so much back for so little investment.
“We need protection for essential cultural, social infrastructure in our communities which includes our local museums, historical sites, libraries and archivist services.
“Scotland needs a genuine Culture recovery as we emerge from COVID-19 and as Shadow Culture Minister, I’ll hold the Government effectively and ensure Scotland’s culture sector not only recovers from the pandemic but truly prospers.
“When Scottish Culture prospers, Scotland prospers.’’
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