Aberdeen Cultural Orgs Under Threat from Funding Shortfalls
Creative Scotland faces a £10.7 million budget cut, threatening the future of Scotland’s cultural organisations and freelance artists.
The Campaign for the Arts has urged the Scottish Government to honour its funding promises to prevent what they call a “cultural catastrophe” in Scotland. The campaign has launched an emergency petition after the national arts body, Creative Scotland, revealed that £10.7 million had been cut or frozen from its budget mid-year. This unexpected cut forced the closure of the main public fund for freelance artists with less than two weeks’ notice.
The possible cuts come as the Scottish Government grapples with its own funding cuts from Westminster, which could impact its ability to support cultural and arts organisations.
The impact of these cuts could be deeply felt here in Aberdeen. Local venues like the Lemon Tree and the Music Hall, and organisations like Citymoves and Peacock rely on funding to support exhibitions, performances, and community projects. Without the promised investment, there’s a risk of reduced programming, fewer opportunities for local artists, and a decline in cultural engagement across the city.
Creative Scotland has also announced immediate cuts to its funding, affecting individual artists across Scotland. With less than two weeks' notice, the 'Open Fund for Individuals'—a crucial source of public support for freelance artists—has been shut down. The sudden cut has left many artists without the expected financial backing, putting their livelihoods and projects at risk and prompting widespread concern across the arts community.
Despite promises from ministers to “more than double” arts funding by 2028–29, Creative Scotland is still in the dark about its budget for the next three years. The uncertainty comes just weeks before it needs to allocate funding to organisations across Scotland. According to the Scottish Parliament’s culture committee, the situation is severe: more than 45 museums and galleries could close within the next year, and Edinburgh’s festivals warn of a “perilously fragile” cultural landscape.
Public funding for the arts in Scotland is essential – not just for artists, but for the wellbeing of our whole society and economy. Yet at this critical moment, Creative Scotland cannot make funding commitments either to individual artists or to nearly 300 cultural organisations awaiting decisions.
Jack Gamble, Campaign for the Arts
The petition calls for Finance Secretary Shona Robison MSP to urgently provide the promised funding for this year, increase next year’s budget, and stick to the Government’s pledges of future financing.
With the future of Scotland’s arts at a critical point, the Campaign for the Arts is pressing for immediate action to protect cultural institutions, safeguard jobs, and ensure that communities across the country continue to benefit from a vibrant arts scene.
By supporting the petition, you can help Aberdeen’s cultural venues continue to thrive and serve the community.
