Artists want bigger say after quango row
● Open letter warns culture secretary of ‘deep misgivings’ about Creative Scotland
An open letter protesting against Creative Scotland’s stewardship of the arts has demanded the Scottish Government gives artists and organisations more of a say in how key funding decisions are taken – due to “deep misgivings” over the quango.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has been urged to ensure the culture sector has direct access to help decide how money is allocated in future rather than being kept at “arms length” by the body.
The open letter, distributed following a “nationwide discussion amongst a diverse group of people across all art forms”, says they have been “deeply perturbed” by the way recent funding decisions were made and the “values these reflect”.
The quango came under fire last month for targeting theatre companies who work with children, disabled performers and women as part of a shake-up on how a £99 million cash pot is spent. Five groups were reprieved following an intervention from Ms Hyslop, who was targeted by online campaigners along with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Two board members, Ruth Wishart and Maggie Kinloch, resigned amid claims the decision-making process was “flawed”.
The letter, backed by more than 350 signatories in 24 hours, warns there is “a depth of feeling and sense of urgency” about the need for change.
A lack of clarity over decision-making, inconsistencies in the rationales given for support or denial of funding, and poor communication are cited in the letter to Ms Hyslop, which has been distributed days before senior Creative Scotland officials appear before MSPS.
Signatories include theatremakers Joe Douglas, Adura Onashile, Nicola Mccartney and David Leddy, as well as musicians Aly Bain, Findlay Napier and Mary Macmaster.
The letter states: “We’re all aware of how difficult it is to make decisions around how the money that the Scottish Government gives to Creative Scotland is apportioned, relative to the various demands being placed upon it, and we do not envy the task of those who make the decisions.
“However, we’re deeply perturbed both by the way in which the funding decisions have been made – and reversed – and by the values these reflect in terms of Creative Scotland’s support of the arts in these straitened times.
“A depth of feeling and sense of urgency has provoked the clear belief amongst us that, in order to create a strong and sustainable creative sector, artists must be involved at a political level in the development of arts funding strategies. Our aim is to ensure the voices of all of those subjected to funding decisions are included in the discussions with government, rather than simply at the arms-length level of communication with Creative Scotland.”
A Scottish Governmentspokeswoman said: “We welcome engagement and debate on support for culture in Scotland, which is why we’vve spent the past seven months discussing the development of a culture strategy with individuals, communities and organisations across the country.”