Creative Scotland arts grants reprieved as funding confirmed

Applications for a major Scottish arts fund will re-open after the Scottish government said resources would be made “available” to ensure it could continue.

Last month, Creative Scotland announced its Open Fund for Individuals would have to close to new applications indefinitely, due to uncertainty over government budgets.

However, the First Minister John Swinney announced in his Programme for Government that the funding stream would be able to resume.

Mr Swinney also said that a review of arts body Creative Scotland will take place, following a year in which the organisation was criticised for funding an explicit sex show.

The first minister said he was “pleased to confirm” the funding news and “the resources required to enable Creative Scotland to continue the work of the Open Fund are now available.”

The fund is intended to support projects, productions or periods of research and development for up to 24 months.

Mr Swinney added: “We will support Scotland’s culture sector and creative industries, which are key to our economy, our culture and national identity, and we recognise the need for the artistic and creative community to be well supported for the future.

“A review of Creative Scotland will be undertaken to ensure the appropriate approach is in place to meet the needs of the sector.”

After the closing date for applications for 30 August was announced, a further 819 applications were received by the arts body.

There are currently 965 Open Fund for Individuals applications pending, seeking more than £15m in funding, with amounts ranging from £500 up to £100,000.

News of the Open Fund being halted prompted the Campaign for the Arts Scotland group to warn the country was heading towards a “cultural catastrophe” without more arts funding and security.

Some of the country’s most popular music arts, such as Paolo Nutini, Biffy Clyro and Franz Ferdinand signed an open letter saying that cuts had sparked the worst crisis the arts in Scotland had ever faced.

A £6.6m budget cut was re-imposed on Creative Scotland in the autumn budget for 2023, which prompted the arts body to use National Lottery funding reserves to plug the gap.

The Scottish government had said the budget would be restored for 2024 but have been under considerable pressure to balance their overall budget.

However the £6.6m will be reinstated while an additional £100m in funding has been earmarked for the culture sector.

Industry body the Scottish Music Industry Association said the news was welcome, but it remained concerned that there is “no clarity” regarding a planned £25m increase in cultural funding for 2025.

Robert Kilpatrick, the organisation’s CEO, said he was “concerned” about “wider knock-on effects” of the Creative Scotland review.

The acting union Equity said plans for rally at Holyrood on Thursday will go ahead as planned and credited pressure from unions, artists and the wider industry for the decision being over-turned.

A statement said: “Despite the reinstatement of pots of funding announced by the First Minister this afternoon, we have no confidence in this government that they will not try this again with the £100m promised culture funding still to be disbursed.

“In December 2023,Shona Robison promised to increase the 2024-25 culture budget by £15.8m. Much of that money is still to be accounted for.

“We will continue to pressure the government through the budget setting process until we see that commitment written in black and white in the Scottish Government’s upcoming budget.”

The union called for an end to the “cycle of cuts and U-turns” from the Scottish government.

Iain Munro, Creative Scotland’s CEO, said the news was “welcome” and would help the arts body cope with demand.

He added: “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.”

He stated that it would “look forward to hearing more details” regarding the review of the organisation.

Details of Creative Scotland’s multi-year funding programme from 2025-2028 is set to be announced in October, with 281 organisations waiting to learn what money they will receive.

Creative Scotland was heavily criticised earlier in 2024 after more than £100,000 was spent on a show due to feature real sex.

Chief executive Iain Munro and chairman Robert Wilson were called before a Holyrood committee to explain their decision making in awarding funding to Rein – a 45-minute art installation described as a “magical erotic journey”.

The grant was later withdrawn after the the artists advertised for performers to take part in non simulated sex scenes.