How do you think Brexit will effect the arts?

Herald on Sunday, Letters 200 Renfield St Glasgow G2 3QB which has still to establish its new standing with the body, could negotiate a new relationship with it, leaving lines of communication – and funding – open. Turkey, Switzerland and Norway have similar such agreements.

In its Brexit White Paper, the UK Government said: “The UK is open to exploring ... continued involvement in Creative Europe to support the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors.”

Scotland’s artistic collaborations with Europe are wide: a recent Creative Scotland survey into the implications of Brexit found its respondents were working with arts companies in 14 European countries, in and out of the EU, including Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sweden.

European funding “opens up new networks and involves new partnerships”, it found. The Creative Scotland survey found concerns over “whether Creative Europe funding will be accessible in the long term, and that the general economic fallout could lead to budget cuts for culture at the national and local level. We anticipate a reduction in fund- ing levels generally”. Iain Munro, interim chief executive of Creative Scotland, has said: “Working internationally is key to ensuring Scotland remains a successful and distinctive creative nation connected to the world ... we share the real concerns among the cultural community in Scotland as to the impact leaving the EU will have on their work and the ability of artists to exchange ideas and practice.

“The sooner we have clarity on what leaving the EU means, the sooner we can all prepare for its implications.”

For some, the implications are clear: Brexit is a historic rupture with the wider culture of Europe and important networks could be disrupted. Nick Barley said that, in listening to what people at other cultural festivals say, for Britain’s reputation “the damage is already done”.

He added: “Certainly, writers around the world tell me they regard Britain as a diminished nation, by reputation.

“Obviously that’s not everybody, but the vast majority of the people I have spoken to have said things like that. If they are right, it is already too late, I am sorry to say.”