Publications

Artists campaign in Scotland

By: Janie Nicoll

It’s just over a year ago now that a letter was signed by over 440 arts practitioners from all over Scotland, voicing concerns at the proposed creation of Creative Scotland, an amalgamation of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, with an expanded remit covering the creative industries and other commercial activity that would previously have been covered by Scottish Enterprise.

This new remit appeared to include "advertising; architecture; crafts; design; designer fashion; film; interactive leisure software; music; performing arts; publishing; TV and radio; and visual arts". The original proposals seemed confused and inappropriate. Particular concerns were set-up costs of the new venture (currently expected to be over £3.3 million), in addition to the money already spent on consultation with a lack of evidence of any real consultation with arts communities, the new organisation's expanded remit was to be achieved without additional funding, the possibilities of loans rather than grants and loss of the 'arms-length principle' that was originally set up by Royal Charter to allow artists autonomy from political sea changes. The Creative Scotland Bill, which failed to mention the term 'artist' in its many pages, was thrown out in the Scottish Parliament due to a budgeting irregularity and much of the content has been transferred to the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill, which is currently being debated. An unwillingness to define 'artist' has led to concerns along with the proposed creation of a board that does not need to include members from the...

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