Review over £85k for ‘arty’ sex film

CREATIVE Scotland has announced that it will review public funding for an explicit film that it describes as “considerably more explicit” than first thought.

The public arts body awarded £84,555 to director Leonie Rae Gasson for the Rein development in January, which is set to be used for a film project requiring actors to participate in “non-simulated” sex scenes.

The project’s website describes it as a 45-minute art installation that pays people a fee of £270 per day to take part in “hardcore” acts.

The recruitment advert states actors must be over the age of 18, with those with previous sex work experience – “particularly in porn contexts” – encouraged to apply.

The public funding allocation has come under fire, particularly at a time when the arts sector struggles to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Creative Scotland confirmed that the “next steps” will be discussed with the applicant.

The statement said the project’s application to the art body’s National Lottery Open Fund did not indicate how explicit the installation would be. A spokeswoman said: “We support freedom of expression and artists being able to push the boundaries of radical performance. However, the project, Rein, is considerably more explicit in its execution than was indicated in the application received to our Open Fund.

“As such, we are reviewing this award and will be discussing next steps with the applicant and with the other partners in the project.”

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said: “Given the concerns raised here, Scottish Government ministers must make clear that robust processes were followed before handing over taxpayers’ money for the show.”

The Scottish Government said funding decisions are made independently by the arts body.