Campaign demands arts funding to avert ‘cultural catastrophe’

Campaigners are calling on the Scottish government to fulfil arts funding promises to address a financial “crisis” in the sector.

The Campaign for the Arts says Scotland could face a “cultural catastrophe”, including museum and gallery closures, without more arts funding and security.

It comes after Creative Scotland closed a major grant because of “lack of clarity” over millions of pounds of government support.

Jack Gamble, the campaign’s director, said hundreds of artists and organisations were waiting on funding decisions as a result of “inaction and backtracking from the Scottish government”.

The Scottish government said it provided significant funding to Creative Scotland each year and would continue to do so.

However it comes at a time when Scotland’s budget is under significant pressure.

Ministers have been ordered to constrain all but essential spending to help pay for public sector pay deals and the government confirmed it would no longer be providing winter fuel payments to all pensioners, in line with the UK government.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison said “difficult” choices would have to be made after Chancellor Rachel Reeves signalled cuts in the next UK budget.

Against this backdrop, the Campaign for the Arts has launched a petition calling on the government to fulfil its pledge to more than double arts funding and to deliver at least £100m more annually by 2028/29 – promises made by Humza Yousaf last year.

It pointed to evidence recently submitted to the Scottish Parliament’s culture committee which “underlined the true scale of the funding crisis in Scotland’s arts sector”.

Museums Galleries Scotland told the committee that more than 45 museums and galleries are at risk of closure within 12 months.

Edinburgh’s festivals have also warned that Scotland’s cultural assets are now in a “perilously fragile” state.

On Monday, Creative Scotland said that uncertainty over the Scottish government’s budget had created “critical problems” for its Open Fund for Individuals, which supports artists, musicians, producers and writers in pursuing creative outlets.

The body originally expected to be able to grant £96m to arts projects, but had to whittle this down and currently expects to be able to distribute only £40m.

It has also decided to delay opening applications for two other funds for young people – Access to Music Making and Strengthening Youth Music.

These decisions come less than a year after a £6.6m budget cut was reimposed despite being reversed earlier in 2023.

At the time the Scottish government promised the funding would be provided as part of the 2024/25 budget.

Mr Gamble said the Creative Scotland funding issue was “truly shocking ” given the repeated warnings from the arts sector over the last two years and the Scottish government’s promises in response.

He said: “Creative Scotland cannot invest funds it does not have. If the government continues to withhold information and resources, cultural organisations will shortly lose the vital support that, astonishingly, all individual artists have now lost.

“These are devastating impacts that are clearly at odds with the government’s stated direction of travel. Ultimately, every citizen will feel the effects.

“Art and culture are not luxuries – they are an essential part of a healthy, thriving society. We urge the Scottish government to deliver on their commitments and increase support before any more damage is done.”

A Scottish government spokesperson added: “We have increased arts culture funding this year, as the first step to achieving our commitment to invest at least £100m more annually in culture and the arts by 2028/29.

“The Scottish budget continues to face significant challenges. We are considering the implications of the actions announced by the Chancellor on 29 July for our public finances, and the next steps required by the Scottish government.”