Humza Yousaf<\/a>\u00a0promised an additional \u00a3100m in new investment would be delivered by 2028.\n<\/p>\n\n There was further controversy last summer when Creative Scotland suddenly shut down an open fund for artists after having more than \u00a310m government funding in its budget was either put on hold or cancelled.\n<\/p>\n
\n The government announced \u201cgame-changing\u201d new funding for the arts sector as part of its Scottish Budget announcement last December, with \u00a334m pledged for this financial year and a further \u00a320m promised for 2026-27.\n<\/p>\n
\n The vast majority of the funding was earmarked to allow Creative Scotland\u00a0to roll out a huge expansion of its long-term funding programme, which has increased in value from \u00a334m last year to \u00a354m this year, and is due to rise to \u00a374m by 2026-27.\n<\/p>\n
\n In her report for Holyrood\u2019s culture committee, Festivals Edinburgh director Lori Anderson said recent funding cuts had been \u201chugely detrimental and distracting\u201d for Creative Scotland and the culture sector, and had caused particularly \u201cdistress\u201d to artists.\n<\/p>\n
\n She said most of the festivals which secured long-term funding via Creative Scotland had found its application process to be \u201cvery time and labour intensive\u201d.\n<\/p>\n
\n She said: \u201cThis impacted some organisations\u2019 ability to deliver and support other work, artists and to capitalise on opportunities during the application period.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThe strategic purpose of the fund was not always clear and how decisions would be taken not fully transparent.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThe artistic programming and creative content, which should be the main focus for any arts organisation, were felt to be compromised in order to meet other criteria such as environmental, international activity, fair work, equality, diversity and inclusion, governance and management, quality & ambition, and engagement.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Ms Anderson said the festivals were being \u201cincreasingly\u201d impacted by climate change, with outdoor events either cancelled or scaled back in recent years, and insisted they were committed to reducing their impact on the environment in the line with the government\u2019s own \u201cnet zero\u201d ambitions.\n<\/p>\n
\n She highlighted the growth of electronic ticketing, the piloting of green hydrogen and renewable energy at events, sustainable travel campaigns to encourage festivalgoers to walk, cycle or use public transport, and waste reduction programmes.\n<\/p>\n
\n However she added: \u201cEdinburgh\u2019s festivals play a significant role in shaping public attitudes on climate and sustainability, and they are increasingly becoming platforms for scrutinising and challenging political responses to the climate crisis.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThe festivals are catalysts for climate awareness and political accountability through creative programming, public engagement, and strategic advocacy.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cEdinburgh\u2019s festivals recognise that we can influence behaviour by talking openly about our progress and continually examining our work and where we can do better\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt is worth noting, however that through grant conditions funded organisations are often expected to influence audiences and peers and this can place an added burden, and it is difficult to monitor the impacts of this activity.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThere are increased asks of the culture sector to meet environmental ambitions without the provision of additional funding and organisations are expected to make these adjustments and adaptations through core funding which reduces the budgets for programming and core work.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n The government\u2019s promised \u00a334m increase in arts spending during the current financial including a commitment to ringfence an additional \u00a34m for festivals.\n<\/p>\n
\n However more than half of this is still to be rolled out, with festivals in Edinburgh and Glasgow sharing an additional \u00a31.1m which has been allocated to the government\u2019s Expo Fund in the current financial year. It has been opened up to festivals across Scotland for its next round, although it is unclear how much of the \u00a34m will be ringfenced for its expansion.\n<\/p>\n
\n Ms Anderson said: \u201cThe value of the current Expo Fund could be unintentionally undermined in the switch to the new funding programme through increasing eligibility and expanding the numbers who can access the funds.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe therefore recommend that an increased budget is ring-fenced for the current cohort, in order to ensure that the impact of their vital work is not lost but rather evolved otherwise they may miss out on funding or not be able to take advantage of an increase in investment.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Ms Anderson\u2019s report highlights what she describes as \u201ca lack of investment in home-grown events.\n<\/p>\n
\n She added: \u201cIt is frustrating to see a lack of progress on alternative funding solutions for perennial cultural assets while Scottish Government has continued to invest substantial sums in one-off sporting events for benefits that cannot be sustained.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n A spokesperson for Creative Scotland said: \u201cIn January 2025, Creative Scotland\u00a0announced the largest portfolio of organisations ever to receive three-year funding, with all organisations previously\u00a0in receipt of funding receiving a significant uplift.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThis was possible due to a significant increase in\u00a0budget available to Creative Scotland from the Scottish Government.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThe application process for multi-year funding was a competitive one, designed to reflect feedback from the last round, and\u00a0taking into account organisation’s creative plans, as well as statutory and other requirements relating to climate change, equalities and diversity, and fair pay.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n A Scottish Government spokesman said: \u201cA record number of artists and organisations are already benefitting from regular funding thanks to a \u00a334 million uplift in the Scottish culture budget.\n<\/p>\n
\n “The sector can expect further support and stability through Scottish ministers\u2019 commitment to invest at least \u00a3100 million more in the arts and culture by 2028-29, with the government having increased funding by \u00a349.8 million to-date.\n<\/p>\n
\n “The ongoing independent review of Creative Scotland was commissioned in part to maximise the impact of this increase for artists and creative organisations supported by Creative Scotland. Ministers will consider how its findings can be applied after the review is published.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
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