Aberdeen has suffered from a 40% real terms cut in arts funding over the last nine years and risks losing artists to the Central Belt, MSPs have been told.
Warnings of a “creative talent” drain as a result of Aberdeen receiving “disproportionately low” funding were made in a document submitted to Holyrood’s Culture Committee.
It was compiled by Culture Aberdeen, a network of organisations including the city’s universities, Aberdeen Civic Forum, business organisations, Creative Scotland, the council and Aberdeen Festivals.
Appearing before the committee yesterday, Culture Aberdeen’s Ken Hay warned that funding for the arts was “fragile” and claimed creative organisations were spending cash to chase sources of funding.
Mr Hay also referred to figures which pointed out Aberdeen City Council approved a 19% reduction in their culture budget for 2019/20 in March.
The document revealed arts funding had been “very challenging” since the 2008/09 recession and the UK Government’s austerity programme.
In addition to council cuts, there had been a 25% reduction in real terms national funding as a result of falling cash from the National Lottery.
The document added: “The net impact of the two main sources of public funds in Aberdeen has been a real term cut of approximately 40% over nine years.”
Mr Hay said there was “increasing pressure on reducing resources”, adding: “ At the moment, whatever the ambition is locally, it is always trumped by emptying the bins or making sure kids get their education.”
Culture Aberdeen’s document went on to say funding decisions were made in a “strategic vacuum” at national and local level.
The document said: “This lack of dialogue and a seeming lack of strategy in decision-making then leads to reinforcing geographical iniquities in funding spread, with Aberdeen receiving a disproportionately low amount of national level funding.”
The report also identified a “specific issue” with the retention of “artists and creative talent” outside the Central Belt.
“If the opportunities aren’t there then people won’t stay,” the Culture Aberdeen document said.
“The opportunities won’t be there unless there is a strategic recalibration of national level funding outside of the central belt.”
Despite these difficulties, Culture Aberdeen said the city’s cultural organisations had shown “remarkable resilience” but it questioned how long this could be sustained. Costs of putting on events were rising beyond inflation while austerity meant there was limited scope for increasing box office prices.
This was combined with increased competition for funding.
Highlands MSP and committee member Donald Cameron said he found it “very worrying” if funding complications had an impact on artistic freedom.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We are investing £269.6 million in Scotland’s culture and heritage sector in 2019/20.
“We will continue to do all we can to protect Scotland’s culture and historic environment and to ensure that our diverse and world-class cultural scene and rich heritage continue to thrive.
“The Scottish Government has worked hard to protect the culture budgets it has responsibility for, and has ensured a fair settlement for local government.
“Aberdeen City Council will receive £380.6m to fund local services in 2019/20 and, using council tax powers, it will also generate an additional £5.5m, resulting in a total of £386.1m– an increase of £25.7m or 7.1%.
“Individual councils are responsible for their own budgets.”
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said officers worked closely with cultural organisations, including “opening up” chances for funding awards of up to £15,000.
