Creative Scotland warns it will not be able to support as many organisations on a multi-year basis

Creative Scotland has warned it will not be able to support as many organisations on a multi-year basis as it currently does based on the current levels of funding. 

In an update, the organisation revealed just over 500 cultural and creative organisations registered their Intention to apply for funding, with an indicative annual request in excess of £113m. 

Creative Scotland said: “This provides a clear indication of the scale of ambition and need that exists across Scotland’s culture and creative sector. 

“It is also a reflection of the rising cost of operations being experienced by cultural organisations due to increased inflation, the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the need to address historic low pay issues through Fair Work First, all against a backdrop of standstill funding over a number of years.” 

It added: “Based on current levels of funding, these figures also underline the fact that Creative Scotland will not be able to support as many organisations on a multi-year basis as we currently do, and the application process will be highly competitive. 

“We continue to advocate on a daily basis for increased funding for culture and creativity in Scotland, and this will continue as we progress through the Multi-Year Funding process with a view to maximising the budgets available to us to support the fund.” 

In February the Scottish government announced it had reversed a proposed £6.6m cut in Creative Scotland’s funding. Before the U-turn Creative Scotland said it planned to use a portion of its National Lottery reserves to maintain funding for its Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs), including the likes of Edinburgh International Book Festival and Publishing Scotland. It warned at the time, however, that this was only a measure for the short term.

The latest announcement reveals further pressures on funding.  

Stage 1 of the application process for Multi-Year Funding opens on Wednesday 6th September to organisations that have registered their intention to apply.