Fresh delay for Creative Scotland’s new funding framework

Creative Scotland has announced a further delay to the introduction of its new Future Funding Framework, which is intended to replace its current funding approach for organisations.

Announcing the decision, it blamed financial challenges facing arts organisations, uncertainty around the funding it will get from the Scottish Government and "the realistic prospect of serious budget reductions" for the delay.

Introduction of the multi-year funding programme will be delayed by up to 12 months, with April 2025 the new date given for it being in place.  

It said that instead, a "refreshed Open Fund for organisations" will launch early 2023.  

Creative Scotland said that, "budgets permitting", funding for the current 120 Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs) will continue at standstill levels for 2023/24 and 2024/25.

It added that there will be "ongoing flexibility" in the use of existing regular funding, plus "a possible short-term RFO supplementary fund using National Lottery resources (funds permitting)".

This supplementary funding for RFOs will be made available "as soon as is feasible" after the Scottish Government confirms Creative Scotland’s budget for 2023/24.