I noted with interest your interview with Linda Fabiani (In Person, AP186). On 2 February 2009, representatives of the Scottish Artists Union as well as the group of over 400 artists who recently petitioned MSPs over Creative Scotland met with the Minister for Europe, External Affairs & Culture, Linda Fabiani MSP (In Person, AP186), and the chair of Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd, Ewan Brown. In a constructive meeting we had the opportunity to voice the key concerns of artists in Scotland, including: the transition costs of the new agency; its relationship with Scottish Enterprise; to what extent arts funding in the form of grants will change; and a sense of exclusion on the part of those working in the arts sector.
The Minister confirmed that the Public Services Reform Bill, expected in May, will contain every article of 2008’s Creative Scotland Bill and a new financial memorandum. Therefore arrangements for Creative Scotland as a whole will be subjected to full parliamentary scrutiny. She will also make a statement about Creative Scotland in the near future, while Mr Brown and his newly appointed board hope to bring forward a ‘core script’ for Creative Scotland in the next two months.
We look forward to all three and trust they will offer assurances to all stakeholders.