Creative Scotland 'should take risks and be more ambitious' - review

An independent review says Creative Scotland, the public body that supports the country's creative and cultural sector, needs to take greater risks and be more ambitious.

The report, which was commissioned by the Scottish government last year after a series of controversial decisions, gathered evidence from more than 450 people.

It heard that the quango was "too bureaucratic" and had a narrow interpretation of the opportunities in its remit.

But the report also heard widespread agreement that current levels of funding for culture in Scotland "did not match the ambition" of the sector.

The report was led by former local authority chief executive Angela Leitch, who said that since Creative Scotland began in 2010, when it merged the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, it had offered "significant support" and provided stability during austerity as well as a strong response to the pandemic.

But she said the evidence showed it was seen only as a funding body and not for its other duties – to advocate for, develop and influence the sector.

She said the responses showed the quango needed greater diversity in its board, staff and the projects it funded.

It said it had a "narrow interpretation of opportunities in its remit", leading to gaps in provision in areas like audio, comedy, architecture and gaming.

Although there was no specific mention of the £84,555 award an erotic film installation project which was reversed after it emerged that performers would be paid to have real sex, the report heard from staff members who had only learned of decisions after they had been made, and reported in the media.

It also suggested a need for stronger scrutiny of decisions and of the people making them.

The review suggested board members – who currently commit one day a month, and to six meetings a year – should increase the time they spend on Creative Scotland, at least in the short-term, and also extend beyond Scotland's central belt.

Board members talked of their "hands being tied by Scottish government" when it came to committing to funding.

Despite increased government funding of £29m, and a promise of an additional £100m by 2028-29, many of those surveyed were apprehensive about whether that would be delivered.

They also talked of a "crippling bureaucracy" which required some organisations to employ consultants with form-filling, and according to another independent report, contributed to mental health issues for almost all of the applicants.

The inquiry report said there was "general agreement" that Creative Scotland had provided "significant support" to the culture sector since it was instigated by the government in 2010.

While the report focuses on Creative Scotland, a second report, still ongoing, is considering the wider cultural landscape and alternative forms of funding.

Scotland's Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said the review was timely.

"I think there will be lots in it that will be able to change Scotland's culture and arts sector and the screen sector for the better," he said.

"It has a broad range of suggestions of things that might be done differently or done for the first time.

"I think funding has been a challenge in the culture sector and that's why the Scottish government has committed to the biggest ever increase in culture funding in Scotland and that impacts not just on arts organisations and venues, but on Creative Scotland itself.

"We have to look at all of the recommendations and we'll consider what is deliverable."

But the Scottish Conservatives' spokesperson for culture, Murdo Fraser, said the report was "damming" and made it clear that Angus Robertson "has once again been asleep at the wheel".

He added: "Fresh from his failure to supervise Historic Environment Scotland, he has made no effort to get a grip with the growing crisis within Creative Scotland.

"It is extremely alarming that the report has delivered a scathing verdict on the quango's lack of transparency, poor leadership, excessive bureaucracy and a total absence of performance monitoring."

The Scottish Liberal Democrats' culture spokesperson and candidate for Inverness and Nairn, Neil Alexander, said: "Everyone who has to deal with Creative Scotland seems to have a story to tell about how they've been messed around.

"The SNP government has chopped and changed the culture budget, risking jobs and leaving people feeling betrayed."

He said the Scottish Lib Dems would focus on the issue at next year's Holyrood elections.

The campaign group Culture Counts has called on politicians across the spectrum to introduce legislation to promote and safeguard the network of creative organisations which it says support 90,000 jobs and add more than £5,700m to the economy.