Culture and External Affairs Budget

19th September 2012

Commenting on the Scottish Government's proposed spending plans for 2013-14, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said:

"In line with the Scottish Government's commitment to support economic recovery and create more jobs, capital investment for the Culture and External Affairs portfolio is increasing to £17 million next financial year. This is almost doubling what we set out in the 2011 Spending Review.

"This includes an additional £1 million for Historic Scotland, as well as confirming funding already committed to the V&A at Dundee, the re-development of the Glasgow Theatre Royal and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre and shovel-ready projects across my portfolio.

"We are also continuing to invest in skills through the Young Scots Fund, providing £12.5 million in 2013-14 for investment across portfolios in emerging young talent in creativity, enterprise and sport.

"Our thriving and vibrant cultural sector continues to support economic growth through the creative industries and opportunities for cultural tourism while access to high-quality cultural events and opportunities enhances quality of life for communities.

"That is why - despite deep cuts to public spending imposed by the UK Government - I have prioritised my portfolio budget to minimise the impact on the sector as far as possible, as set out in the 2011 Spending Review.

"This Government is continuing to support artists, cultural opportunities and cultural excellence through investment in Creative Scotland, the National Performing Companies and the National Collections and I have protected their operating budgets as far as possible.

"Despite a stringent financial climate, I am maintaining our International Development budget at its highest-ever level - £9 million per year - helping to make a real and significant difference to some of the world's poorest people.

"As a consequence of the reduction in my budget, the Scottish Government will be unable to respond to additional requests for funding received throughout the year. I am again challenging the bodies we fund to develop creative, innovative and collaborative solutions to the funding pressures we all face. This includes ways of expanding income generation with a view to decreasing reliance on direct Government funding."

The main points from the Culture and External Affairs Draft Budget 2013-14 are:

The Culture and External Affairs portfolio will be able to spend £240.8m in 2013-14 - a slight increase (1.26 per cent) on the 2012-13 baseline, but still 1.95 per cent less than in 2011-12.

Capital spending is being increased to £17 million in 2013-14 from the £8.7 million set out in the 2011 Spending Review.

Creative Scotland - the national body supporting and promoting Scotland's culture, arts and creative industries - will receive a core budget of £34.1 million in 2013-14. Significant efficiencies have already been made through moving to a single arts and culture body and this two per cent reduction is a smaller than portfolio average reduction over the Spending Review period. An additional £1 million capital for shovel-ready projects means that Creative Scotland's net budget will, in fact, increase in 2013-14 relative to the Spending Review 2011 allocation. Due to rising levels of income from the National Lottery, Creative Scotland will actually have more money to invest in arts projects in 2013-14.

We are continuing to invest in our National Performing Companies and Cultural Collections. They have been protected from cuts in previous years to give them time to prepare for budget reductions which are lower than the portfolio average over this Spending Review period. We are maintaining the National Performing Companies' International Touring Fund at £350,000, to showcase high-quality Scottish creativity and talent on a world stage. We have provided our Cultural Collections with additional capital support for repairs and maintenance to ease the burden of costs on their core grant and accelerate these capital works.

£10 million for the Youth Music Initiative (YMI) in 2013-14, via ring-fenced funding allocated to Creative Scotland. Since its inception in 2003, YMI has provided numerous opportunities for children and young people across Scotland to get involved in music.

Support for Arts & Business Scotland and the Cultural Enterprise Office (via ring-fenced funding allocated to Creative Scotland) is also being protected, recognising their continuing importance in encouraging private investment in the arts and creative industries, and supporting and nurturing fledging creative enterprises.

The Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, which supports Scottish talent, creativity and jobs, is being protected in 2013-14. A total of £2.25 million will be invested in Edinburgh's Festivals next financial year through the continuation of the £2 million Expo Fund plus £250k direct to Festivals Edinburgh. The Scottish Government has invested £10 million in the Expo Fund over the past five years, enabling Scottish-based companies and artists to reach global audiences and contributing to the success of the Edinburgh Festivals, which generated £261 million for the Scottish economy in 2010.

In 2007, the Scottish Government doubled the International Development budget to £9 million - its highest ever level. Today's budget maintains this level of funding. From 2013, we will launch a special small grants funding scheme to enhance our support for the many smaller organisations and community groups who do vital international development work across the world. This comes in direct response to feedback from the sector.

Funding for Historic Scotland in 2013-14 of £43.6 million including additional capital of £3.3 million. Historic Scotland is continuing to grow its income from a variety of sources, by exploiting new areas of income generation and is pursuing efficiencies through shared service or partnership projects. It is also working closely with VisitScotland, The National Trust for Scotland, National Records of Scotland and other sector partners.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) will receive £20.8 million in 2013-14, reflecting a return to 'normal' spend following the 2011 Census and efficiencies that continue to be made through the merger between NAS and GROS - including a single ITC system.