Tag: arts funding

Review of Creative Scotland announced

ARTS FUNDING CRISIS OVER – FOR NOW

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has announced a review of Creative Scotland to ensure its operations and structure are optimal to the needs of the culture sector, as part of this year’s Programme for Government.

The review, which will be the first since the public body’s establishment in 2010, will examine Creative Scotland’s remit and functions as a funding body, and how the overall impact of planned increases in levels of public funding can be maximised to support sustainability in the sector and in participation in the arts.

Full details of the review and its process will be set out to parliament in the near future, and will include seeking views from individuals and organisations from all parts of Scotland’s culture sector.

The Culture Secretary also confirmed that following a period of necessary due diligence, Creative Scotland had now received funding previously allocated to it in the 2024/25 Scottish budget, including £1.8 million for youth music, and £6.6 million that will allow its Open Fund to be re-opened.

Mr Robertson said: “Scotland’s culture is world-renowned and it remains integral to our nation and our economy. Over the past 14 years, Creative Scotland has had a significant role in supporting that role, distributing £65 million of public funding in the last year alone.

“With the sector having faced a number of new and enduring challenges since then, the time is now right for us to ensure Creative Scotland’s remit and functions remain relevant, in line with our commitments to invest at least £100 million more annually in the arts and culture by 2028-29, and to continuous improvement across all our public bodies.

“It is routine for public bodies to undergo reviews throughout their lifetime, and while that process is ongoing we are clear that we expect the organisations involved to take forward their business as usual.

“Creative Scotland is no different and they will be carrying on with their important work throughout.

 “In the meantime I’m pleased to confirm release of £1.8 million to Creative Scotland for youth music, and another £6.6 million, which includes £3 million towards its Open Fund and £1 million for Screen Scotland.” 

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “Creative Scotland notes the intention to review the way the sector is supported, as announced by the First Minister in the Programme for Government, and we look forward to hearing more details.  

“We welcome the continued commitment to provide an additional £100m in funding for Culture and will work with the Scottish Government on the effective allocation of that funding, to the benefit of culture and creativity in Scotland.

“We also welcome today’s confirmation of £6.6m, originally committed to Creative Scotland by the Scottish Government at the start of this financial year, reinstating budget removed in the previous year.

“We continue to see unprecedented levels of demand for the Open Fund for Individuals and will process the high volume of applications we have received. With the budget now confirmed, we will work to re-open this fund.

“We are sure today’s confirmation of the release of this funding will be welcomed by the creative community of Scotland.”

Culture sector facing catastrophe, says Choudhury

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.

Council launches £100,000 BAME arts fund

A new £100,000 fund to support Edinburgh-based Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) artists, practitioners and producers in the Capital’s arts and culture sector opens for applications.

The City of Edinburgh Council’s Diversity & Inclusion Fund will focus on projects that promote greater creative collaboration between black, Asian and minority ethnic artists, practitioners and producers and Edinburgh-based cultural organisations.

Grants of up to £5,000, £10,000 and £20,000 will be awarded to organisations or individuals based in the Capital to help with the costs involved in developing new performing artwork (music, dance, spoken word and theatre), film making and screenings, digital art, cultural events and creative writing.

This is the first of two cultural project funding opportunities in Edinburgh, established through the creation of the Flexible Fund as part of the new approach for Third Party Cultural Grants agreed by the Council last year. Details of a second Flexible Fund opportunity, currently planned for Arts and Health Projects, will be announced in May 2020.

Cllr Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Edinburgh has a long and strong reputation for creativity and excellence in the arts and we must continue to identify new and collaborative ways of resourcing the sector, and this fund will go some way to support new talent.

“As part of our policy of widening and deepening engagement with artists and communities across the city this fund is targeted at Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic artists and Edinburgh-based cultural organisations.

“We are committed to promoting stronger collaboration, developing new partnerships and creating new funding streams. The creation of our new Flexible Fund will help nurture more new work and emerging artists and enable greater access to our funding programmes for previously unfunded groups or those who have found it difficult to access mainstream funding in the past.”

A Panel of industry specialists will review applications for Diversity & Inclusion Fund grant awards in April 2020.

Further information on Diversity & Inclusion Fund

Who can apply?

Projects involving Edinburgh-based artists and practitioners and taking place within the City of Edinburgh boundary. Grants will be awarded to projects that promote greater collaboration between minority ethnic artists/practitioners, and Edinburgh-based cultural organisations. Projects should reach, involve, benefit and engage BAME artists and/or cultural organisations and creative practitioners.

Projects and activities could include: visual and performing arts (music, dance, spoken word and theatre), film making and screenings, digital art, cultural events and creative writing.

A total Fund budget of £100,000 is available for projects developed in financial year 2020/21 offering:
6 grant awards of up to £5,000;
3 grants of up to £10,000; and
2 grant awards of up to £20,000

The deadline for submissions is 3 April 2020 (23:59 GMT).

An online application form and further information about the fund can be found via the consultation hub.

You can also register your interest in attending information sessions.

Creative Scotland must urgently address its failings, says Holyrood Committee

Creative Scotland must urgently address its strategic failings following a catalogue of criticism from Scotland’s creative sector, says Holyrood’s Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee. Continue reading Creative Scotland must urgently address its failings, says Holyrood Committee

Creative Scotland funding process ‘completely unsatisfactory’, says Holyrood committee

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‘Completely unsatisfactory’ is the view of a Scottish Parliament Committee on hearing Creative Scotland’s response to questions about its Regular Funding process. Continue reading Creative Scotland funding process ‘completely unsatisfactory’, says Holyrood committee