HISTORY, the old line goes, is written by the victors.
In arts funding news, however, the narrative is usually driven by those who have lost out. And in the past two weeks, Scotland has once again seen companies that have missed out on the crucial, stabilising, three-year Regular Funding deals from Creative Scotland expressing their disquiet about the funding decisions.
As we know, Creative Scotland announced regular funding for three years, from 2015-2018, worth £99,696,859 to 119 organisations. Far more - 145 - companies and organisations missed out. Creative Scotland could not fund everyone. But it has not, as yet, explained the details of each decision publicly. This leaves the floor to those who are angry, bewildered, and upset.
Of these, the most high-profile and articulate has been Scottish Youth Theatre (SYT).
Why did Creative Scotland not think SYT was deserving of regular funding? We have not been told. I know that when Creative Scotland was making the decision, figures inside the body knew it would be controversial. And so it proved: the alumni of SYT, which is based in Glasgow, expressed their anger at the decision, with Blythe Duff in particular launching a withering assessment of the situation. Another, Colin McCredie, said that SYT should not be funded by Creative Scotland at all and should be deemed a national company alongside Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, the two national orchestras and the national theatre company.
And yesterday, it appeared the Scottish Government fundamentally disagreed with Creative Scotland's analysis (and also, it seems, agreed with Mr McCredie). A degree of financial stability was given to SYT, with a three-year, £1m funding package announced yesterday by the First Minister in a deal that includes three other youth arts companies. It appears the vocal lobbying may have worked. And with three years of direct funding from the Government, SYT is being treated essentially like another national company. One wonders if Creative Scotland, an arm's-length body, feels undermined on this case. It made a decision and the Government has effectively overturned it. Fiona Hyslop, the Culture Secretary, met with SYT on Tuesday, and the company found out yesterday afternoon about the funds: very quick work by the Government. Creative Scotland found out about the deal two days ago.
But while it seems SYT was not allowed by the powers-that-be to fall into a financial crisis, others are left considering their options. Some are increasingly bleak. Dogstar Theatre of Inverness is, it says, "hanging by a thread". The acclaimed Untitled Projects is, we understand, considering its future. The Federation of Scottish Theatre is preparing its own analysis of the situation, which could be illuminating. More are considering speaking out. So like any good drama, this will run and run.
And while the Government is effectively creating new national companies, what about the Edinburgh International Festival? It could be next.
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