Emergency campaign launched to 'bring Scottish culture back from brink'

An online petition launched by the group, which has 250,000 registered supporters, calls on the Scottish Government to "pull Scotland's cultural sector back from the brink” when it sets its budget.

The grassroots alliance is working with Culture Counts, Scotland’s network of arts, heritage and creative industries organisations, which says the survival of many companies is at “high risk” without urgent support.

The new campaign hopes to capitalise on the sudden prospect of a change in First Minister by securing a rethink of support for the arts to stave off the prospect of companies going under and jobs being lost within months.

An emergency package of measures is being demanded to help the sector weather a “perfect storm” of factors, including reduced audiences, the impact of Brexit, years of standstill funding, soaring costs and the current economic climate.

Targeting John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and acting Finance Secretary, and Culture Secretary Angus Robertson, the new campaign is calling on the government to “retore and grow” investment in the arts to ensure a “sustainable future” for performers, companies and venues.The online petition highlights a string of closures across the country in recent months, including the Filmhouse cinemas in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, the Blue Arrow Jazz Club in Glasgow and the Nevis Ensemble street orchestra, which worked all over Scotland.

The new campaign, which is urging people across Scotland to email their local MSPs on the culture cuts, lists all 120 organisations, venues and events which are currently reliant on Creative Scotland funding.

These include the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Eden Court in Inverness, Glasgow Film Festival, Wigtown Book Festival, the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, Dundee Rep, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh and Perth Concert Hall.

The online petition states: “The SNP’s 2021 manifesto said ‘culture is central to who we are as a nation,’ and that ‘the pandemic has demonstrated more than ever how vital it is to our wellbeing, mental health and sense of belonging.’

“But Scotland’s cultural sector has not fully recovered from the pandemic, during which it was one of the hardest-hit sectors.

"For many, incomes have fallen and reserves have dried up. Now, in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, costs are rising and uncertainty is rife.

"This is not the time to cut vital, core funding on which artists and organisations depend.”

Creative Scotland was hit with a £7m cut when the government revealed its budget plans in December, which triggered warnings it may have to cut around 60 companies and organisations it provides long-term funding to next year. It faces having to use £7 million from its £17 million national lottery reserves to ensure standstill funding for 120 organisations across the country but has warned this cannot be repeated again.

Campaign for the Arts director Jack Gamble said: “We’re entering a period of change in Holyrood and it should extend to a rethink about the budget.

"The plan to cut Creative Scotland funding is a short-sighted move that will cause long-lasting and potentially irreversible damage.

"Especially in this economic climate, the implications are devastating for cultural organisations and the communities they serve.

"Everyone in Scotland should be able to access the arts and if ministers agree they need to take decisive action now.”

Culture Counts advocacy manager Joseph Peach said: “In the context of the overall Scottish budget, arts and culture takes a tiny proportion of total government investment, for which it delivers an enormous economic, social and cultural return.

"The close engagement between the Scottish Government and the culture sector to date has suggested there was a shared understanding of this."Yet we find ourselves in a position where, instead of protecting Scotland’s culture sector, and enabling our passionate, inventive, creative and highly skilled workforce to unlock the transformative potential of culture across Scottish society, the short-term survival of many organisations and culture workers is at high risk – and the Scottish Government’s plan to enact this funding approach risks their long-term future.”

One of Scotland’s leading visual artists, Rachel Maclean, who is backing the new campaign, said: “Culture defines who we are, it reflects on our past and looks to our future.

"It's grossly short-sighted for this government to cut off funding to institutions and individuals who are so essential in shaping a vision of Scotland's future.

"This funding cut won't just mean a few less exhibitions, plays or books, it will result in the careers of Scotland's future talent being cut off before they're even able to get started.

"This decision will impact the prospects of an entire generation of artists, the negative effects of which will be felt for years to come.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We value the importance of cultural organisations and their contribution to the wellbeing of the country to promote the arts, provide employment and engage with communities across Scotland.

“It is for these reasons, among many others, that the Scottish Government provided £256 million in COVID support funding to help them navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

“However, given the current difficult public expenditure environment there are significant pressures on funding. We’ve provided Creative Scotland with over £33 million over five years to compensate for reduced lottery funding. When the government is facing difficult funding decisions, the time is right for it to draw on lottery reserves.”