Open letter to Scottish Culture Secretary, Fiona Hyslop

Community Arts Worker. Retired

Drum maker

(Aberdeen, Scotland)

Writer & Director in inclusive theatre.

If we are to have a sustainable arts economy we need to provide the funding to make it possible.

Producer/Promoter/Artist Manager Arts and culture are central to our national identity and a force for the wellbeing of everyone in Scotland. The more diverse and inclusive the better!

All levels of the arts have to be supported equally.This doesn't appear to be the case at present.With the majority of funding being given to those already well established.The unsigned musician/singer/songwriter is virtually given no funding whatsoever.I fully support an artist-led National Arts Forum to represent all those working in the arts across Scotland.

Freelance lighting technician. While I understand that there is not enough funding to award everyone that applies with the money the would like, the way that decisions have been made, and reversed, lead me to believe that the entire evaluation process is so flawed that it is a danger to the vibrance and diversity of the Scottish arts community. Companies I work for have received reports on their work that show that the people evaluating them are completely unaware of the work those companies do, seeing none of it in person. They have been criticised for using new technologies as gimmicks, after being told this would help secure funding. And, perhaps worst of all they are given no way to appeal the decision, or even lodge a simple complaint.

Producer & Arts Manager

Scottish Cartoon Art Studio, Cartoonists’ Rights Network International, formerly Scottish Artists Union My deep reservations about Creative Scotland,which have existed since its inception, were only deepened and affirmed by the recent round of funding decisions, both which companies did and didn’t merit support.

Writer/theatre director.

Artistic Director Paper Doll Militia, Edinbuirgh

I have not been affected directly by the recent decisions taken by Creative Scotland, so have no particular axe to grind. Of course, in any competitive process there will be winners and losers. However, although I see many losers - fantastic arts organisations that have lost funding, or failed to secure it for the first time, I can’t see who the winners are and, therefore, why they might have one.the whole process seems to have been flawed, with the result that the cultural life of Scotland will ultimately be the biggest loser.

Visual artist and community artist

Performer & theatre maker., Glasgow

Arts Writer, Critic, and Publisher (Northwest Highlands)

Composer and Recording Engineer

Musician, Composer and Producer in Edinburgh. Touring with Ross Couper and Tom Oakes, OBT and Tom Oakes Ensemble. Freelance teacher and workshop facilitator for RCS, University of Newcastle and Trinity:Laban Conservatoire. Session Musician, Library Music and commissioned composer and director of ‘Winter Trad’ Festival.

Composer and Musician

Visual artist