Scotland's Cultural Financing: Recent Developments Explored
In a Nutshell: Creative Scotland's Game-Changer
Unleash your creativity, Scotland, because change is afoot! Creative Scotland, our nation's cultural powerhouse, has kicked off a revolutionary Multi-Year Funding Programme, set to inject more than double the dough into Scotland's artistic scene over the next three years.
Eager to hear the lowdown? Here's a juicy insider view of how this new funding system came to life, what it's all about, and which artistic troops will receive an enticing helping of the spoils.
Origins and Evolution
The Multi-Year Funding Programme was birthed in 2019, as Creative Scotland embarked on a mission to level-up its funding strategies. The organization opened its doors to the public, hosting numerous events across Scotland, listening to opinions, and asking two simple questions: "What can Creative Scotland do for you?" and "How should Creative Scotland prioritize and deliver its funding?"
By employing the Double Diamond design approach, Creative Scotland sought to design a more accessible funding system, working closely with the artistic community to shape the program's structure and goals.
Empowering the Artistic Community
The feedback gathered from the public events, coupled with an analysis of Creative Scotland's past five years of funding, defined the program's key priorities. One of the main findings was the need for more regular funding for a larger number of creative organizations, addressing the deep-rooted desire for stability and predictability in the sector.
Another imperative was setting clear priorities for support and outcomes, including emphasis on equality, diversity, and inclusion, environmental sustainability, fair work, and international projects.
From Ideas to Reality
Once the program's priorities were established, Creative Scotland went into overdrive, creating an online application process for artists to apply for funds. With over 361 applications submitted and a whopping total ask of £96m per year, the demand for Creative Scotland's cash was evident!
The Thrill of the Chase
Theapplication process was designed to be transparent and fair, with organizations evaluated based on their alignment with Creative Scotland's funding criteria. Organizations that demonstrated adherence to the criteria were invited to proceed to Stage 2, where they were asked to provide evidence to back up their intentions.
Joining Forces
In 2023, the Scottish government announced its plans to massively increase arts and culture spending over the next five years. Recognizing the alignment between the Multi-Year Funding Programme and Scotland's artistic mission, the government pledged its support, ensuring that more organizations would benefit from Creative Scotland's generosity.
With the Multi-Year Funding Programme in full swing and the government's backing, Scotland's creative community can look forward to a bountiful future of artistic growth and collaboration. Keep your eyes peeled for the many wonders that will unfold as this funding revolution continues!
Kicking Off the Creative Revolution
Excited about what's to come? Keep the Creative PEC website bookmarked for updates and breaking news on Scotland's artistic ventures.
Author
- Clive Gillman - Creative Scotland's Multi-Year Funding Programme mastermind
This post was originally published as a guest blog on Creative PEC. The views expressed here are solely those of the author.
- Creative Scotland's Multi-Year Funding Programme, with a goal to inject more funds into Scotland's artistic scene, was born in 2019, following the organization's mission to develop a more effective funding strategy.
- The design approach employed by Creative Scotland involved extensive public engagement through events held across Scotland, focusing on gathering opinions about the organization's funding strategies and priorities.
- The Multi-Year Funding Programme prioritizes regular funding for a larger number of creative organizations, aiming to provide stability and predictability in the sector, as well as supporting equality, diversity, inclusion, environmental sustainability, fair work, and international projects.
- Over 361 applications were submitted for Creative Scotland's funding, amounting to a significant total ask of £96m per year, demonstrating the high demand for the program.
- Organizations applying for funds were evaluated based on their alignment with Creative Scotland's funding criteria and were asked to provide evidence to support their intentions in order to progress to the next stage.
- In 2023, the Scottish government announced plans to increase arts and culture spending over the next five years, aligning with Creative Scotland's Multi-Year Funding Programme and ensuring that more organizations will benefit from the program's generosity.
