Published: 03 Nov 2022
This is an update on our approach to future funding for organisations, following discussions at the Creative Scotland Board meeting 26 October.
As highlighted in Creative Scotland’s recent submission to the Culture Committee at the Scottish Parliament; by those from other public bodies and cultural organisations; and by the inquiry report from the Committee itself, Scotland’s culture and creative sector is facing significant challenges brought on by long-term budget pressures, increased operating costs, slow post-COVID recovery and falling income.
Alongside these challenges, uncertainties continue around Creative Scotland’s budgets from the Scottish Government for this year, next year and beyond, with the realistic prospect of serious budget reductions. It is clear that change in the sector will be required to ensure that the worst effects of the current challenges can be managed and to help shape a more confident future.
All of this has significant implications for our work to deliver our Future Funding Framework (FFF) according to the plan previously set out, including the delivery timescales for the Multi-Year Funding Programme which we publicised in our last external update.
Put simply, we are not able to confidently roll out a new Multi-Year funding approach and ask organisations to devote significant time and effort in applying, when we don’t have sufficient clarity or confidence in our future budgets.
We need to act responsibly in such a complex and uncertain environment, particularly when cultural and creative organisations are under such enormous pressure on many fronts.
With this in mind, we have looked again at the options open to us to sustain a meaningful funding offer and keep moving forward with our FFF plans wherever possible, whilst revising and adapting these plans and delivery timescales to face the challenges of the current environment and the change required.
At the recent Creative Scotland Board meeting, the following was agreed:
We will work over the coming weeks to finalise the new approach to OFFO; further scope, then design and implement any RFO supplementary fund; and communicate all of this, as well as providing more detail on the revised timeline for the Multi-Year Funding Programme.
Please look out for further updates across our communications channels and newsletters and, in the meantime, please contact our Enquiries service with any questions.