Once again we are in a position where the Scottish Government are turning their back on the arts. The Scottish Government did a U-Turn on cutting £6.6 million to Creative Scotland in February after thousands across the country spoke out against this shameful move with ‘Campaign for the Arts’. Now once again we find ourselves back in the same situation as the Scottish Government once again swerves for another U-Turn with SNP MSP & Culture Secretary, Angus Robertson, stating that the £6.6 million won’t be delivered.
Creative Scotland had this to say:
“We are extremely disappointed to report that the £6.6m budget has not been included in the Autumn Budget Revisions.
This has been confirmed in writing by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Angus Robertson, in a letter to our Chief Executive, Iain Munro on 20 September.”
Arts in Scotland is failing; however this is not due to the talent or creative intuition of our artists, it’s of the constant underfunding by the Scottish Government. For theatre in Scotland, we have seen the collapse of theatre companies, the strain affecting well-established theatres and work failing to break out due to not having the funding available. If we are to continue down this path of cutting the arts, then Scotland will have a drought of artistic work due to the financial suffocation the Scottish Government has imposed on its artists.
Creative Scotland should and must have this £6.6 million, if not so, then more. If this is not followed through then the creative industries, which may we remind the Scottish government makes Scotland £5.8 Billion per year, will stall. And if the government wish Scotland to be a country of culture and prosperity, then how are they going to do that without funding their artists?
Campaign for the Arts will be igniting a new campaign to keep up to date, follow them here.
Theatre Scotland 