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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Question reference: S6W-32115

  • Date lodged: 10 December 2024
  • Current status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 7 January 2025

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing further financial support to grassroots music venues beyond the planned 40% rates relief in its draft Budget 2025-26.


Answer

The Scottish Government fully values the importance of the music industry to Scotland’s culture, and the role grassroots music venues play in the talent pipeline.

The Scottish Government has demonstrated our commitment to the culture sector with an increase of over £34m in 2025-26. This is takes us to over £50m more in culture funding than in 2023-2024. Through this increased investment we want to support the entire culture ecosystem by driving up opportunities for participation in creative pursuits, supporting the production of new works, and ensuring that Scotland’s cultural output has platforms at home and abroad. The additional funding will support the continuation of flagship music programmes across Scotland, including Youth Music Initiative and Sistema. As part of our regular engagement with the industry, and our review of how we support the sector, we welcome insights from stakeholders into how future budgets could further support the sector.

Further details of the increases for 2026-2027 and beyond will be set out when the budgets for that year are published.