THE Finance Secretary has said she will increase Scotland’s culture budget by £34 million next year.
Robison made the announcement as she delivered the Scottish Budget in Holyrood on Wednesday afternoon.
The Cabinet Secretary said she had listened to the concerns of the sector with Scottish Labour having previously called for £25m to be spent in this area.
Speaking in Holyrood, Robison said that music venues would receive support for paying non-domestic rates.
She added: “I will not increase the culture budget by £25m. No, Presiding Officer instead I will increase the culture budget by £34m next year – another record increase.
“We’re committed to increase arts and culture funding by £100m. After just two years, we’re halfway there.
“Next year, subject to the normal Budget processes, I aim to deliver a further £20m increase.
“Taken with this year’s rise, multi-year funding can be provided to cultural organisations across Scotland, something Angus Robertson has told me will be transformational for the sector.”
Robison said this would include our “world-class Scottish festivals, whose budget we are doubling” and that thousands of grassroots artists would benefit from the support.
The Finance Secretary (above) made a number of key announcements in the Budget, including pledging to mitigate the impact of the two-child benefit cap.
Ministers have hit out at the Tory-implemented policy for years, which has not been scrapped by the new Labour administration despite repeated calls to do so.
She urged the UK Government to provide the necessary data to allow for the changes to be made.
Robison told MSPs: “Be in no doubt that the cap will be scrapped. My challenge to Labour is to work with us – join us in ending the cap in Scotland, give us the information that we need.
“But either way, let me be crystal clear, this government is to end the two-child cap and in doing so will lift over 15,000 Scottish children out of poverty.”
