Creative Scotland under fire in letter from country's leading artists

One hundred of the country's leading artists pulled no punches in an attack on Creative Scotland, the country's main arts funding body.

They said that it disregards Scottish culture, is confused, intrusive, and suffers from ill-conceived decision-making.

The letter was signed by leading figures including author Alasdair Gray, crime writer Ian Rankin, playwright John Byrne, and Scotland’s makar Liz Lochhead.

It said: "Routinely, we see ill-conceived decision-making, unclear language, lack of empathy and regard for Scottish culture. We observe an organisation with a confused and intrusive management style married to a corporate ethos that seems designed to set artist against artist and company against company in the search for resources.

"This letter is not about money. This letter is about management. The arts are one of Scotland's proudest assets and most successful exports. We believe existing resources are best managed in an atmosphere of trust between those who make art and those who fund it. At present, this trust is low and receding daily."

Calling for a fresh start from the two-year-old organisation, the group asks that Creative Scotland acknowledges the "scale of the problem" and commits to more stable funding for small arts groups.

Scotland Tonight spoke to the Chief Executive of Creative Scotland Andrew Dixon and with the actor Tam Dean Burn.

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