Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture
Last week we wrote to Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture following up on his letter to Culture Counts of 26 June.
We asked for further information on plans “to reform the culture sector with a view to delivering more efficient, cost effective, sustainable services” as referenced in Mr Robertson’s letter of 5 June to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee updating on progress on the Culture Strategy Action Plan, as well as proposals and timeline for Public Service Reform.
We also raised concerns regarding the over subscription of Creative Scotland’s Multi Year Funding programme and called for negotiations with Creative Scotland before the decisions in October to address the significant gap in funding by bringing more of the promised increased funding forward.
The letter can be read below.
30 July 2024
Dear Cabinet Secretary
Thank you for your letter of 26 June on behalf of you and the First Minister.
I appreciate the further information on the background of the Culture Minister role, which is helpful. Given the challenges the sector is currently facing and the anticipated crisis, particularly once Creative Scotland’s Multi Year decisions are taken at the end of October, we would still propose reconsideration of the decision to axe this vital position.
We saw with interest your letter of 5 June to Clare Adamson MSP, Convener of the Constitution, External Affairs & Culture Committee updating progress on the actions of the Culture Strategy Action Plan. In particular, we noted reference to planned reforms of the culture sector and would be interested to understand what is proposed for any reforms of the wider sector, please? We are aware that Public Service Reform is under development, and we would be grateful for any information you could provide on the timeline for this and if there will be any public or sector consultation, please? The letter also talked of prioritising, resources over the next five years, and we would welcome the opportunity to engage in discussions concerning this.
Whilst we are currently in the process of engaging with the Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26 process, our members are continuing to raise concerns regarding levels of investment in culture this year and in particular the funding that is available to Creative Scotland’s Multi Year Funding programme for decisions at the end of October. We understand that Creative Scotland’s budget at present is only confirmed to March 2025 and with significant over subscription for funding you will be aware that there is a considerable amount of uncertainty over how MYF will be funded and what that means for those who do not receive support and the knock-on impacts on the wider sector. We encourage negotiations with Creative Scotland over the next few months to align planning and address the significant gap in funding by bringing more of the promised increased funding forward to enable strategic planning and vital investment for Creative Scotland, the sector it supports and the communities they serve across Scotland, now when it is most urgently needed.
Going forward, we would encourage open discussion with the sector on the priorities for next year’s budget and a commitment to three-year funding settlements for Scottish Government core funded cultural organisations, as per the pledge in the 2021 Party Manifesto, would be enormously helpful.
We are pleased to see you met with Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for DCMS and hope that Scottish and UK Government relations will continue to develop to unlock collaborations and investment for the benefit of the sector.
As you are aware from Julia Amour, I will be taking up the role of Director of Festivals Edinburgh from October and look forward to continuing to work with you in my new position.
In the meantime, Culture Counts, continues to offer our support to work with you to achieve our shared ambitions for Scotland’s culture sector and a catch-up meeting would be very useful in the coming weeks to discuss these issues and opportunities further.
Yours sincerely
Lori Anderson
Culture Counts