Lothians MSP Foysol Choudhury, Scottish Labour’s Shadow Culture Minister, is pressing the Scottish Government to urgently act following reported comments by Francesca Hegyi, Chief Executive of Edinburgh International Festival, that the Scottish culture sector could face a “house of cards” collapse.
MSP Choudhury has joined Ms Hegyi in calling on the Scottish Government to save Scotland’s world-renowned culture sector and urgently roll out the £100 million pledged last year by the Government.
Foysol Choudhury and Scottish Labour colleagues have been calling for an urgent festivals crisis summit-a plea Ms Hegyi is seemingly now echoing with her calls for a crisis summit on the future of arts funding in Scotland.
MSP Choudhury said: “Francesca Hegyi’s comments lay bare the extent of the crisis in our culture sector – her concerns must be heeded by the Scottish Government.
“I have been calling for an urgent festivals crisis summit and have been raising questions on this at the Scottish Parliament, as well as meeting with the relevant stakeholders to try and secure action to save our culture sector before it is too late.
“It is clear that Scotland’s cultural sector is under enormous pressure, with cultural organisations crying out for support and venues and festivals under threat.
“Yet, the Scottish Government still won’t heed mine and Scottish Labour’s calls for a crisis summit on festival funding.
“We must save our world-renowned cultural sector, which contributes hugely to our creative economy, as well as having a huge positive impact on other industries such as tourism and hospitality.
“We need the concrete action of a festivals crisis summit now.”
Some cultural organisations are also complaining of ‘standstill’ funding which provides little opportunity for growth. Mr Choudhury has, in response, been pressing for long-term, sufficient funding which allows the culture sector to truly thrive.
With some reports suggesting that Edinburgh’s festivals bring in similar viewing numbers as the World Cup, which has years to prepare, Mr Choudhury says it is incredibly important that Scotland’s culture sector is also given the same level of economic stability and preparation time to maintain our world-class status as a global hub for culture.
Mr Choudhury says he and his colleagues will continue to press the Scottish Government on these matters and work to preserve Scotland’s cultural sector.
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