This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Minister defends arts funding
23/01/2003
The Executive's level of investment in and committment to the arts in Scotland was defended today.
In a letter to Scottish Arts Council Chairman James Boyle, Culture Minister Mike Watson responded to allegations of indifference and inadequate funding.
Mr Watson expressed his disappointment that some in the sector still fail to recognise that the Executive has made available record levels of funding for the arts and culture through the Scottish Budget.
Funding through the Scottish Arts Council and the three Scottish national institutions will go through the £100 million barrier next year for the first time.
The letter is reproduced below:
"It is wholly unacceptable for you to suggest that different Ministers have different stances and fail to value the arts sufficiently. I can assure you that the First Minister and my Ministerial colleagues share my commitment to arts and culture in all its forms. The First Minister's recent speeches clearly outline his belief in the major role cultural activities play in delivering excellence in our schools and building growth in our economy.
"My Ministerial colleagues and I are particularly concerned that you fail to recognise that the Executive has ensured record levels of funding for the arts and culture. Since 2000/01 (the last year when budgets were determined by the preceding administration) funding for the arts and for culture has increased in real terms. The present level of support is at record levels. Total grants in 2000/01 were £120m; in 2005/06 they will be just under £186m. There have been real terms increases to SAC baselines which will increase to £40m in 2005/06. In addition, the Executive has in recent years allocated well over £10m to specific projects in the arts including the Dewar awards, Scottish Opera, school cultural co-ordinators, Burns, and the Edinburgh Festival. I therefore neither understand nor accept the suggestion that there has been standstill funding.
"We are proud to defend the Executive's record and our commitment to the National Cultural Strategy; we applaud the achievement and aspiration of those working in the arts. We are always willing to discuss the many issues raised in the article with you and others and to consider any positive proposal. However, we consider such a negative and unappreciative public commentary completely unhelpful in terms of the objectives to which I, the First Minister and my Ministerial colleagues are committed and that it does a disservice to the wider perception of the arts and cultural sector."