Open Letter about ending of support to individual artists

Following Creative Scotland’s announcement that the Open Fund for Individuals, their main support fund for independent artists in Scotland, will close on 30 August, we have signed this open letter along with more than 100 other cultural leaders. We are talking to the community of artists that we work with and will be sharing more in the coming days.

Jim Hollington (Chief Executive) and Tony Mills (Artistic Director)

Open Letter to First Minister John Swinney, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes & Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs & Culture, Angus Robertson

We, the undersigned representatives of Scottish arts organisations and festivals, are writing to express our grave and deep concern over the Scottish Government’s failure to provide certainty surrounding the £6.6 million Grant in Aid budget for Creative Scotland.

In direct consequence, Creative Scotland has announced the abrupt closure of the Open Fund for Individuals, the primary route to public funding for Scottish Artists to develop their projects. 

The closure of this vital fund is nothing short of a crisis for the Scottish arts community and directly contravenes the government’s own Action Plan 2023, which states: “it is vital that all eligible organisations and practitioners have the opportunity to apply for support”

The Open Fund for Individuals is not just a financial resource—it is the cornerstone of independent artistic creation in Scotland, supporting the livelihoods of countless artists. Without it, many artists are left without the means to continue their work.

This risks sending a stark message out to the world: Scottish arts is closed for business. 

In the same month as the global spotlight is on Scotland’s vibrant cultural scene through the Edinburgh Festivals, this cessation of support for local artists is particularly devastating.

The consequences of this situation are grave: 

1. Sector Health and Wellbeing: Independent artists are the heartbeat of Scotland’s cultural ecosystem, and many rely on public funding not only to create and innovate but also to sustain their everyday lives.  The sudden closure of the Open Fund leaves them without crucial financial support, putting their wellbeing and livelihoods at serious risk; and directly contravenes both Creative Scotland’s and the Scottish Government’s commitments to Fair Work.
2. Drain of Talent away from Scotland. The emotional and financial strain and the removal of funding places on artists will result in artists choosing to live & work elsewhere to sustain their practices. This is highly detrimental to Scotland particularly when the creative industries are seen as a key growth sector, and forecast to grow by 4% by 2026.
3. Cultural and Economic Damage: The arts are a significant contributor to Scotland’s economy and cultural identity. Without funding, the production of new work will slow to a trickle, leading to fewer performances, exhibitions, and community programs. This diminishes Scotland’s cultural vibrancy and impacts local economies that benefit from a thriving arts sector.
4. Scotland is absent from International Stages: Without the creation of new work, Scottish Artists will no longer be invited onto International Stages – thereby putting at risk the financial sustainability of these individuals, the reputation of Scotland’s Culture around the globe, but also The Actions outlined within the Scottish Government’s  Cultural Action Plan (2023, page 4), which states “and, “we aim to open new markets and develop new audiences, supporting the Culture Sector’s financial resilience”.
5. Scottish Festivals & Venues are at Risk: We note Angus Robertson’s commitment to Scotland’s Festival ecosystem made on the 8th August, as well as the Cultural Action Plan’s commitment to our wider built infrastructure.  It is therefore vital to highlight that the closure of the Open Fund directly impacts them due to the lack of Scottish Work being Created and the high risk of Scottish Work being absent from their stages.
6. Community Engagement & Wealth Building at Risk: Within your Action Plan (page 5) you highlight “the intrinsic value of culture and its ability to deliver beneficial outcomes across Scotland’s communities”.  The Open Fund for individuals supports the creation of work by and for these very communities – it also provides for the development of work that speaks of the experiences of Scotland’s rich and varied communities. The closure of this fund threatens to strip Scottish residents of valuable cultural experiences, widening social divides and reducing the reach and impact of the arts as well as weakening Scottish Government’s commitment to Community Wealth Building

The resilience of Scotland’s cultural sector is not infinite. Artists cannot continue to bear the burden of delayed and inadequate support. We strongly urge the Scottish Government to recognise the severity of this situation and take immediate action to release the necessary funds to Creative Scotland, allowing the Open Fund for Individuals to be reinstated.

This is a necessary first step towards securing the future of the arts in Scotland, but alone it is not enough to reverse decades of shrinking support. It is now more vital than ever that the Scottish Government follows through on its promises to “more than double” investment in arts and culture and we seek urgent clarification on the timeline and mechanisms for delivering the pledged £100m increase in funding by 2028-29

We look forward to your prompt response and positive action on this matter. 

Yours sincerely, 

The updated list of signatures can be found here.