Creative Scotland funding system 'below expected standard'

Birds of Paradise had its funding reinstated after initially being refused

Creative Scotland's funding system falls "well below" the standard expected of a public body, a parliamentary inquiry has found.

The arts organisation has been heavily criticised over funding decisions, which saw board members resign in protest earlier this year.

MSPs said the organisation needed to urgently address strategic failings.

Creative Scotland praised its staff and said it was conducting a review of the funding process.

In January, despite an increased financial settlement, Creative Scotland refused funding to 21 organisations, many of them long established.

Joan McAlpine is the committee convener

Support to five groups was subsequently reinstated, but there were calls for the group to overhaul its processes.

Creative Scotland said some of the touring theatre companies would be eligible for a new fund, which has yet to be launched.

Holyrood's cross-party culture committee carried out an inquiry into the funding process, which heard evidence from more than 50 artists and organisations.

In their findings, MSPs said the information was poorly communicated, left organisations in a challenging position and seriously damaged the confidence of the sector.

'Badly damaged'

Committee convener Joan McAlpine said: "We received unprecedented levels of representations from within the sector following Creative Scotland's handling of regular funding for 2018-21.

"With more than 50 responses from artists and arts organisations, it is clear to us that the confidence of a significant element of the cultural sector in Creative Scotland's regular funding process has been badly damaged.

"In particular we felt that the handling of the process in relation to touring theatre and dance companies fell well below the standard that is expected from a non-departmental public body."

Robert Wilson was appointed chairman of Creative Scotland earlier this year

Chairman Robert Wilson said Creative Scotland would provide a full reply to the culture committee by its August deadline.

In an initial response, he said the committee had called for evidence before "important discussions" had taken place with individual organisations to explain decisions and address their concerns.

"It is of concern, therefore, that much of the criticism that has been made reflects unduly negatively on Creative Scotland and particularly on our staff," he said.

"I have no doubt about their commitment to this process and their expertise, professionalism and integrity in the work they do more broadly."

'Chorus of agreement'

Mr Wilson said Creative Scotland was conducting an independent review of the last round of regular funding.

"This regular funding review will feed into the planned wider review of our overall funding approach which we aim to have completed by the end of this year," he said.

He added that a wider organisational review was looking at its culture, working practices, values, structure and operations.

David Leddy, artistic director of the Fire Exit theatre company, said: "The report is utterly damning and yet utterly unsurprising.

"Creative Scotland have repeatedly tried to argue that gaping holes in their work were simply minor glitches.

"Yet there has been a chorus of agreement from the arts, media and general public that Creative Scotland's behaviour has been unethical, unrigorous and unfit for purpose."