Concerns Raised for Scotland’s Culture Budget

Scottish Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury has raised alarm bells about the latest funding arrangements for Scotland’s Culture Sector. He believes that there are no year-on-year, real-terms cuts to the culture budget. In this year’s culture budget, the overall increase has been from £180.8m to £196.6m. However, total culture funding is still less than what it was in 2022-23 – equivalent to a £13.2m cut in real terms. The Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee had previously raised concerns that the culture sector in Scotland is suffering from a “perfect storm” of crises. He said “Scotland’s vibrant cultural sector has huge potential and a pivotal role to play in the future of the Scottish economy. Sadly, the SNP are sleeping at the wheel and have given up on trying to build a positive future for Scotland’s arts and culture sector. The arts and culture sector has been crying out for increased funding for so long, yet the offer now presented it simply insufficient. The SNP has been treating culture as disposable when they need it to be-I will be working hard for my constituents to hold the SNP to their promises to double culture funding within 5 years.  The SNP Government must urgently recognise the value and contribution of Scotland’s culture sector and help to save it before it is too late, instead of wasting tax-payer’s money on an Independence Minister.”