Arts / Local arts concern over closure of Creative Scotland fund
SHETLAND Arts chief executive Graeme Howell has written an open letter to local MSP Beatrice Wishart expressing concern at the news that Creative Scotland has closed one of its funds as result of financial uncertainty.
He said the Open Fund for Individuals is one of the “primary routes to public funding for Shetland based artists to develop their projects”.
Earlier this week Creative Scotland announced it was closing applications to the fund at the end of August.
This was because the Scottish Government was unable to confirm release of £6.6 million in grant-in-aid budget in the current financial year.
It added that if and when budget clarity becomes available from the Scottish Government, “we will aim to reinstate direct funding support to individuals as soon as is possible”.
A national petition has also been launched encouraging the Scottish Government to deliver on its arts funding pledges to “prevent a cultural catastrophe”.
The open fund is designed to support creative activity such as specific projects, productions or periods of research and development for up to 24 months.
It is separate to the core funding Shetland Arts receives annually from Creative Scotland.
Local writer Jen Stout, who received a grant from the open fund for her latest book Night Train to Odesa, said it was “heartbreaking” to see it close.
“We could be like Ireland and fund creative industries, fund writers and artists, but instead we’re going in the other direction,” she said.
“There’s no way I could have spent weeks writing Night Train to Odesa in Voe, focused completely on that book and doing no other work, without the grant I received from Creative Scotland’s open fund.
“It’s heartbreaking to see it close because of the absurd funding situation.
“At this rate, we’ll end up with only well-off people able to write books or create music or art, and that would be very dull.”
In his letter to MSP Wishart, Howell said having a source of income close off with only 11 days notice will have a “significant impact on the health and wellbeing of those who were planning applications”.
“This funding is even more vital for creatives based in remote communities where the additional costs and challenges of bringing work to fruition can create significant limiting factors,” he added.
“The message the closure of this fund sends will force artists to look for more welcoming locations and will drain talent from our islands.
“The creative sector is a growth sector for Scotland and Shetland and the economic impact of this decision will be highly detrimental to this ambition. It should also be acknowledged the role the creative economy plays in exporting and promoting Shetland to the world.”
He said more than £45,000 was granted to Shetland-based creatives from the fund in 2023.
“We need the Scottish Government to follow through on their very vocal commitments to the creative sector,” Howell added.
“To immediately reinstate the promised funding for Creative Scotland and clarify how they intend to ‘more than double’ their investment in arts and culture.”
The fund will stop accepting new applications at 2pm on Friday 30 August.
Shetland Arts said it can support people working to complete applications in time.
Folk are asked to contact admin@shetlandarts.org by the end of Monday (26 August) with ‘Open Fund’ as the email subject line.
Shetland Arts will also be hosting an ‘artist support’ morning on Wednesday 4 September at 11am, as an opportunity to gather and provide a “listening ear”.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We have increased arts culture funding this year, as the first step to achieving our commitment to invest at least £100m more annually in culture and the arts by 2028/29.
“The Scottish budget continues to face significant challenges. We are considering the implications of the actions announced by the chancellor on 29 July for our public finances, and the next steps required by the Scottish government.”
Creative Scotland has issued a Q&A on the fund, which can be found here.
It comes after artists from Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles came together to produce a “manifesto” highlighting the impact of arts from the islands – a project which received funding via Creative Scotland.
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