ARTISTS have staged a protest outside Holyrood over the lack of funding for the arts sector, despite the Scottish Government’s U-turn on Creative Scotland cuts.
Hundreds turned out to the protest on Thursday, which was organised by performing arts trade union Equity.
It comes after John Swinney announced during his first Programme for Government on Wednesday that the resources required for Creative Scotland to continue the work of its Open Fund have now been made available.
The demonstration – which was scheduled before the First Minister’s announcement – aimed to protest against cuts to Scotland’s culture budget.
Demonstrators said they would be holding the Scottish Government to account for pledging to spend £100 million on the arts over the next five years.
📽️ Watch as artists protest outside Holyrood, calling for more funding despite the Government's U-turn on Creative Scotland cuts 🎭 pic.twitter.com/MJwxfDUY8L
— The National (@ScotNational) September 5, 2024
Speakers included Kirsty Miller from the Equity Scottish national committee, Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, Alice Black from the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union, Emma Jayne from the Equity dance committee, and Peter Arnott from the Scottish Society of Playwrights.
Miller called out the “repeated U-turns" from the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, after it was previously announced that the fund would be closed to new applicants at the end of August.
“Although yesterday’s announcement to reinstate the Open Fund is welcome, forgive me for not getting excited,” she told the crowd.
She added that the next funding announcement is due in October, leading to more uncertainty for artists.
Foyer also drew on the Government’s U-turns, saying: “The Scottish Government right now are putting on quite a performance of their own, doing quite a few backflips over the last couple of years.
“The arts and culture doesn’t just matter to the thousands of people who work in it, but it matters to all working people.
“One of our best slogans is that we need bread, but we need roses too. And you [artists] are our roses.”
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson was also present at the demonstration but declined to provide comment to The National.
A spokesperson said campaigners held an impromptu meeting with Robertson following the demonstration, where he reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s commitment to increasing culture funding to £100m over the next five years.
