Culture Secretary Under Fire as Arts Body Faces Scathing Critique
Scotland's Culture Secretary, Angus Robertson, is facing intense criticism after a damning independent review into the operation of Creative Scotland, the nation's primary arts funding body. The SNP minister has been accused of being 'asleep at the wheel' while the £90 million-a-year organisation was found to have significant failures in leadership, transparency, and strategic direction.
Key Failures Identified in the Report
The comprehensive review, which gathered evidence from 450 individuals within the arts sector, delivered a brutal assessment of the quango's performance. While it supported Creative Scotland's overarching goal of supporting Scottish arts, it found the delivery and leadership were inadequate.
The organisation's stated aims were criticised as being 'vague', its grant-making decisions inconsistent, and its leadership structure 'difficult to navigate and lacks transparency'. A recurring theme was that the body had become too bureaucratic, with a tick-box approach that ultimately neglected genuine artistic talent.
A recurring criticism highlighted in the report was that 'funding increasingly prioritised engagement, accessibility and sustainability over artistic or creative merit'. Despite having committed staff, Creative Scotland was perceived as 'distant and impersonal to many' in the community it serves.
Leadership and Performance Monitoring Found Wanting
The report issued a stark warning, stating: 'The leadership of the organisation must demonstrate greater ambition.' It was revealed that Creative Scotland, which last year made a controversial U-turn after funding an £85,000 hardcore sex film, had failed to monitor its own performance properly and displayed a lack of strategic decision-making.
In a significant blow to Mr Robertson's record, SNP ministers were directly instructed to 'review how the culture portfolio functions within government'. This comes as the Culture Secretary is already under pressure for a separate 'corruption' scandal involving the heritage quango Historic Environment Scotland.
Political Reaction and Calls for Accountability
Scottish Tory culture spokesman Murdo Fraser did not hold back in his condemnation. 'This damning report makes it clear Angus Robertson has once again been asleep at the wheel,' he stated. 'Fresh from his failure to supervise Historic Environment Scotland, he has made no effort to get a grip with the growing crisis within Creative Scotland. It is extremely alarming.'
Fraser emphasised the seriousness of the situation, noting that after the pornographic film funding scandal, 'any competent SNP minister should have been keeping a very close eye on its activities, given it gets almost £90million of taxpayers’ money each year.'
Scottish Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Neil Alexander added: 'Everyone who has to deal with Creative Scotland seems to have been messed around. The SNP Government has chopped and changed the culture budget, risking jobs and leaving people feeling betrayed.'
Official Responses and the Path Forward
Review chair Angela Leitch concluded that while 'there is a need for a strong national body for the arts, culture and creative sector', significant improvements are required for Creative Scotland to fully deliver on its remit.
In response, Mr Robertson acknowledged that 'Change is needed to ensure Creative Scotland fulfils its potential'. He noted this was the first review of the organisation since its creation in 2010 and promised to carefully consider the recommendations before updating parliament.
A spokeswoman for Creative Scotland said the body welcomed the report and its recommendations, stating: 'We will now consider these recommendations, working with the Scottish Government who commissioned the review, and develop plans to implement them as appropriate.'
