Apprehension has been growing in Scotland regarding the imminent formation of Creative Scotland, a private company limited by guarantee that is set to replace both the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, with the aim of shifting the focus towards a “creative industries” agenda. The transition process has seen a lack of meaningful consultation with the arts communities, and serious concerns are growing about the effects that Creative Scotland will have on artists’ welfare and practice.
Particular worries include the huge costs of setting up a new institution, the replacement of arts grants with repayable loans, and the expanded remit to support the creative industries without additional funding being reallocated from Scottish Enterprise. More worrying in a wider sense are the ideological implications of the unfettered privatisation of public services, and the infiltration of market forces into every aspect of society.
Further reading can be found here:
creativescotland.blogspot.com
