Open Fund is back
ScotGov reinstates £6.6M, announces Creative Scotland review
Creative Scotland has committed to reinstate the Open Fund for Individuals, while reporting an “unprecedented” number of applications, amounting to almost twice its annual allocation, since the fund’s shock closure in August.
The news comes as the Scottish Government reinstated £6.6M funding to the organisation, £3M of which is ring-fenced for the Open Fund. ScotGov also included a full review of Creative Scotland “to ensure its operations and structure are optimal to the needs of the culture sector” in its Programme for Government 2025, announced on 4 Sept 2024.
ScotGov continues to assert that Scotland’s culture “remains integral to our nation and our economy”.
Iain Munro. CEO of Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland says it received 819 applications, with a total ask of £11,893,366, between announcing the closure of the Open Fund for Individuals on Monday 19 August and its closure on Friday 30 August.
This is equivalent to the number of applications received in the previous six months. In total, there are currently 965 applications pending, with an ask £15,197,390.
Creative Scotland is now “considering the practicalities of handling this volume of applications, alongside re-opening the fund.”
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson says the review, the first since the public body’s establishment in 2010, will examine Creative Scotland’s remit and functions as a funding body and how the overall impact of planned increases in levels of public funding can be maximised to support sustainability in the sector and in participation in the arts.
He also confirmed that “following a period of necessary due diligence, Creative Scotland had now received funding previously allocated to it in the 2024/25 Scottish budget, including £1.8 million for youth music, and £6.6 million that will allow its Open Fund to be re-opened.”
continued commitment
In a statement, Iain Munro, Creative Scotland’s CEO noted the Scottish Government’s intention to review the way the sector is supported and looked forward to hearing more details. He also welcomed the “continued commitment to provide an additional £100m in funding for Culture”.
Munro said: “We also welcome today’s confirmation of £6.6m, originally committed to Creative Scotland by the Scottish Government at the start of this financial year, reinstating budget removed in the previous year.
“We continue to see unprecedented levels of demand for the Open Fund for Individuals and will process the high volume of applications we have received. With the budget now confirmed, we will work to re-open this fund.
“We are sure today’s confirmation of the release of this funding will be welcomed by the creative community of Scotland.”
integral
Robertson said: “Scotland’s culture is world-renowned and it remains integral to our nation and our economy. Over the past 14 years, Creative Scotland has had a significant role in supporting that role, distributing £65 million of public funding in the last year alone.
“With the sector having faced a number of new and enduring challenges since then, the time is now right for us to ensure Creative Scotland’s remit and functions remain relevant, in line with our commitments to invest at least £100 million more annually in the arts and culture by 2028-29, and to continuous improvement across all our public bodies.
“It is routine for public bodies to undergo reviews throughout their lifetime, and while that process is ongoing we are clear that we expect the organisations involved to take forward their business as usual. Creative Scotland is no different and they will be carrying on with their important work throughout.
“In the meantime I’m pleased to confirm release of £1.8 million to Creative Scotland for youth music, and another £6.6 million, which includes £3 million towards its Open Fund and £1 million for Screen Scotland.”
The Scottish Goverment’s programme for Government is here.
Angus Robertson’s announcement of a review of Creative Scotland is here.
Details of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals are here.
ENDS
