Arts body frustrations discussed

By Pauline McLean
Arts correspondent, BBC Scotland

The future of arts funding in Scotland has been up in the air

More than 100 artists and arts organisations are due to attend two separate meetings to discuss their frustration over plans to shake up arts funding in Scotland.

Creative Scotland, which will merge Scottish Screen with the Scottish Arts Council, was expected to have been established by now.

But the collapse of the bill which would have created the new organisation has left it in limbo.

It has been reformed as a limited company while it awaits the passing in parliament of the Public Services Reform bill.

Artist Guyan Porter is one of between 30 and 40 individuals who plan to attend a public meeting in Glasgow.

"We have a lot of concerns," he said.

"Artists are not mentioned in the bill, so even in terms of the language, we feel excluded. There's a dramatic decrease in funding - from £54m to £45m and that includes the budget for Scottish Screen."

Private meeting

He added: "We're also concerned about the proposal to replace grants with loans to artists, with no explanation about what that would mean in practice. There are a lot of questions."

The group intend to forward their concerns to the Scottish Parliament.

Meanwhile, a second meeting will be held in Edinburgh, this time in private, for organisations who already receive foundation funding from the Scottish Arts Council.

Organised by Jan-Bert van der Berg, director of the Edinburgh-based charity Artlink, it will be attended by representatives from 50 arts organisations from around the country.

It's easy to criticise and moan, a lot harder to make constructive criticism and offer possible solutions Jan-Bert van der Berg Artlink director

He said: "Communication is very important - a lack of communication makes people feel worried and uncertain even when they needn't be.

"That's what we'd like to achieve in this meeting - to clarify some facts.

"It's easy to criticise and moan, a lot harder to make constructive criticism and offer possible solutions. I think as art organisations we have to take a little responsibility for what's going on."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Arts Council said the meetings would be welcomed as a constructive contribution to Creative Scotland.

She confirmed the new body would have just over £50m of funds to distribute, plus an additional £17m of lottery funds.

The SAC currently distributes about £67m per annum.