Seòmar agus comataidhean

Good morning, cabinet secretary. You have been agreeing with the premise of many of the questions from committee members. Would you agree that the culture sector in Scotland is in crisis?

We have heard significant evidence from the sector that it still faces a huge crisis. Museums Galleries Scotland told the committee:

“We have reached a point at which so many organisations are in crisis that they are struggling to do the really good work that we know can be done.”—[Official Report, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, 12 September 2024; c 10.]

Culture Counts has warned that

“the crisis facing Scotland’s culture sector is an immediate one”,

and Creative Scotland has said that it is working with

“a number of organisations that are in crisis and on cliff edges.”—[Official Report, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, 19 September 20204; c 37.]

Recently, the First Minister received a letter from prominent figures in Scotland’s music scene, including Paolo Nutini, Biffy Clyro and 170 others, who raised concerns about an impending “cultural catastrophe” unless the Scottish Government provides immediate and reliable support to the sector.

Why are we in the situation of facing a crisis in the culture sector and an impending cultural catastrophe? How will the Scottish Government act to stop such a catastrophe and avoid such a crisis?

Forgive me, but I thought that you had already persuaded your Government colleagues about an additional £25 million over the coming—

You are asking us to vote for a budget, and you cannot even tell us how much money will be in it.

We have discussed the need for confidence and certainty in the sector, but what we are seeing is chaos and a mess. I have been listening closely to what you have been saying. You have said that you want to reassure the sector and to provide a stable environment. You are also saying things such as, “If we can secure an increase in funding,” and, “I will try to persuade colleagues.”

For months, the Scottish Government has been giving clear commitments and promises to increase the budget by at least £25 million in 2025-26. Cabinet secretary, you have said that, the First Minister has said it and so has the Deputy First Minister. Yet, half an hour before the committee met this morning, you wrote to Creative Scotland, saying that you cannot tell it what the funding position will be next year. That is chaotic.

How many months ago was it when you gave those commitments for an extra £25 million?

Did you have clarity then, when you made that commitment? When you made that promise, you somehow had clarity then, but you do not have it now.

I am sorry, cabinet secretary, but I do not think that you have underscored the Government’s commitments today. In your letter to Creative Scotland half an hour before this committee meeting, you have provided huge uncertainty about the budget position this year, having given clear commitments to provide £25 million extra next year. That is not what the Government is doing today. You have not underscored commitments this morning; instead, you have provided huge uncertainty to the sector, because it now has no idea what funding it will get next year.

Yes.

Last year—almost 12 months ago.