Arts sector could be closed for business unless funding restored, Swinney warned

Holyrood ministers are being urged to restore funding to the arts body Creative Scotland – with more than 130 figures from across the sector telling John Swinney that a failure to act risks sending the message that “Scottish arts is closed for business”.

The letter, from scores of arts organisation in Scotland, has been sent to the First Minister, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Culture Secretary Angus Robertson after the closure of a vital funding programme.

Creative Scotland chief executive Iain Munro said closing the fund to new individual applicants from the end of this month is “unavoidable” as the Scottish Government has been unable to confirm if £6.6 million of funding would be released to the arts body.

It comes after Creative Scotland was forced to use £6.6 million of its reserve cash to make up a budget shortfall – with Mr Robertson giving MSPs a “gold-plated commitment” last October that the money would be returned.

The letter describes the open fund as being the “cornerstone of independent artistic creation in Scotland”.

Adding that it supports “the livelihoods of countless artists”, the signatories – including Lyndsey Jackson, deputy chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society – said “without it, many artists are left without the means to continue their work”.

Commenting on the fund’s closure, they said: “This risks sending a stark message out to the world: Scottish arts is closed for business.”

The letter, signed by representatives from organisations including the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow, the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, Aberdeen Arts Centre, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Youth Theatre Arts Scotland, Dundee Contemporary Arts and the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival, adds that in the same month as the “global spotlight” is on Scotland during the Edinburgh festival, the “cessation of support for local artists is particularly devastating”.

It added: “The resilience of Scotland’s cultural sector is not infinite. Artists cannot continue to bear the burden of delayed and inadequate support.”

Calling on the Scottish Government to “recognise the severity of this situation”, the signatories said ministers should take “immediate action to release the necessary funds to Creative Scotland, allowing the open fund for individuals to be reinstated”.

While they said this is “a necessary first step towards securing the future of the arts in Scotland”, they added that on its own restoring the £6.6 million to Creative Scotland is “not enough to reverse decades of shrinking support”.

With the Scottish Government having already pledged an additional £100 million, the signatories demanded “urgent clarification” on when this will be received.

“It is now more vital than ever that the Scottish Government follows through on its promises to ‘more than double’ investment in arts and culture,” the letter said.

“We seek urgent clarification on the timeline and mechanisms for delivering the pledged £100 million increase in funding by 2028-29.”

They made the plea as they said the “sudden closure” of Creative Scotland’s open fund could leave artists without “crucial financial support, putting their wellbeing and livelihoods at serious risk”.

The letter went on to warn that the “emotional and financial strain” could see artists “choosing to live and work elsewhere to sustain their practices” – insisting this would be “highly detrimental to Scotland”.

The letter went on to state: “The arts are a significant contributor to Scotland’s economy and cultural identity. Without funding, the production of new work will slow to a trickle, leading to fewer performances, exhibitions and community programmes.”

It also warned that “without the creation of new work, Scottish artists will no longer be invited on to the international stage”, claiming this would impact the “reputation of Scotland’s culture around the globe”.

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.