About the Inquiry
The Committee is conducting an inquiry into the future of funding for the arts in Scotland.
The call for evidence closed on 12 April 2019.
Please contact the clerks if you have any queries.
Evidence
The Scottish Parliament's Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee is collecting views on the future of arts funding in Scotland.
Call for evidence
Read the call for evidence
Information for BSL users on submitting evidence in video format can be found here. If you have any queries about how to submit evidence, please do not hesitate to contact the clerks using the contact details in the call for evidence above. More information about getting in touch using BSL is also available here.
Anyone considering submitting views to the Committee should read the privacy policy for information on how we handle personal data (171KB pdf).
Written Evidence
Please note, more submissions may be published in due course.
Supplementary evidence
The Clerks have prepared a summary of the written evidence received.
The Committee commissioned international comparative research into arts funding models. The research was undertaken by Drew Wylie Projects Ltd.
The Committee undertook fact-finding visits to Ayr on 3 June 2019 and Dunfermline on 10 June 2019 to speak with stakeholders about arts funding. The notes of discussion can be found below:
Oral evidence
On Thursday 30 May, the Committee began taking evidence in a roundtable discussion, from Professor Richard Demarco CBE; writer and performer Harry Josephine Giles; David Leddy, the artistic director of the Fire Exit theatre company; Rhona Matheson, the chief executive of Starcatchers theatre company; Ken Mathieson, jazz musician; and Raymond Vilakazi, the artistic director of Neo Productions.
At its meeting on Thursday 6 June, the Committee took evidence in two panels. On the first panel were Rona Alexander, Vice Chair, Voluntary Arts Scotland; and Janie Nicoll, a visual artist and a past President of the Scottish Artists' Union. On the second panel were artists and cultural freelancers Kirsten Gow; Katriona Holmes; and Emma Jayne Park.
On Thursday 20 June, the Committee took evidence in two panels. On the first panel were Fiona Campbell, Convener, Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland; Jude Henderson, Director, Federation of Scottish Theatre; and Irene Kernan, Director, Craft Scotland. On the second panel were Nick Stewart, Music Venue Trust; and David Laing, Head of Arts, Music and Cultural Venues, Glasgow Life.
At its meeting on Thursday 27 June, the Committee took evidence from Leonie Bell, Strategic Lead, Paisley Partnership, Renfrewshire Council; Gary Cameron, Head of Place, Partnerships and Communities, Creative Scotland; David McDonald, Arts Development Director, DG Unlimited; and Stewart Murdoch, Director, Leisure and Culture Dundee.
At its meeting on Thursday 19 September, the Committee took evidence from Julia Amour, Director, Festivals Edinburgh; Ken Hay, Culture Aberdeen; Jennifer Hunter, Executive Leader, Culture Counts.
On Thursday 14 November the Committee took evidence from Orlaith McBride, Director, Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon;
Agnieszka Moody, Director, Creative Europe Desk UK.
On Thursday 21 November the Committee will take evidence from Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs,
Ann Monfries, Senior Arts Advisor, and David Seers, Head of Sponsorship and Funding, Scottish Government.
For any queries, please contact the clerks.
Report
The Committee's report, Putting Artists in the Picture: A Sustainable Arts Funding System for Scotland, was published on 10 December 2019.
The Scottish Funding Council responded to the Committee's report on 21 February 2020:
The Scottish Government responded to the Committee's report on 20 April 2020:
Creative Scotland responded to the Committee's report on 1 May 2020: