Prominent actors are voicing their concerns regarding the shutdown of a crucial fund managed by Creative Scotland that supports artists. Sam Heughan, known for his role in *Outlander*, has urged the Scottish Government to restore budget cuts affecting its arts agency, emphasizing the “devastating” consequences of closing this multi-million-pound fund for creators.
Alan Cumming, another celebrated figure in Scottish theatre and film, has also expressed his dismay as pressure mounts on First Minister John Swinney. Heughan insisted that reopening the fund is essential, highlighting the Scottish Government’s obligation to uphold its financial support for the arts sector. He pointed out the significant role artists play in shaping Scottish culture and identity, alongside their contributions to education, welfare, and public health.
Cumming labeled the fund’s closure as “really tragic” and remarked that it reflects poorly on the government’s commitment to supporting the arts. He characterized the implications of this budget cut as “alarming” for the future of Scotland’s artistic landscape. Both Heughan and Cumming, who have long advocated for Scottish independence, are part of a growing chorus of cultural voices urging the government to reconsider its decision. This outcry follows Creative Scotland’s announcement that over £10 million in government funding had been canceled or suspended, including the abrupt closure of a £6 million “open fund” designated for artists.
Other notable figures joining the protest against these cuts include actors Jack Lowden, Forbes Masson, and Kate Dickie, along with renowned Scottish musicians such as Paolo Nutini, Lewis Capaldi, Shirley Manson, The Proclaimers, Mogwai, and Franz Ferdinand. Both Heughan and Cumming have ties to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now known as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), where they honed their craft.
The RCS recently issued an open letter to First Minister Swinney, warning that the funding cuts affecting open music and youth projects threaten the very “lifeblood and future” of Scotland’s artistic creativity and cultural vibrancy.
The closure of Creative Scotland’s open fund comes less than a year after the Scottish Government pledged to significantly increase arts funding, with a promise of £100 million in new investments by 2018. Meanwhile, Creative Scotland is still awaiting a budget allocation for a vital three-year funding initiative for theatres, festivals, and other cultural organizations, with an announcement expected in October.
Heughan remarked on the importance of such funding, stating, “This fund provides necessary resources to those at the grassroots level, allowing them to create and sustain their work. Losing it is a genuine tragedy and poses a serious threat to the future of the Scottish arts scene.”
He encouraged the public to amplify their voices in protest, urging individuals to reach out to their local Members of the Scottish Parliament to advocate for the arts. “This is not a good situation, and it certainly doesn’t reflect well on Scotland,” he added.
In response, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson acknowledged the concerns raised by the artistic community, assuring them that the Scottish Government is attentive to their calls for action. He noted the significant challenges facing public finances, which have been intensified by recent announcements from the UK Government.
Robertson highlighted that the government has already invested over £55 million in Creative Scotland for this financial year and indicated that more steps would be outlined in the future to tackle the challenges and address the issues raised by the arts community.
