The founder of the Scottish Fashion Awards has criticised the �parochialism� of Scotland�s arts bodies after being forced to search for a new venue for the event.
The founder of the Scottish Fashion Awards has criticised the "parochialism" of Scotland's arts bodies after being forced to search for a new venue for the event.
Tessa Hartmann spoke of her disappointment that the awards will no longer be staged at Stirling Castle after she failed to secure sponsorship backing from Historic Scotland and Stirling Council for next year's show.
She accused Historic Scotland, which manages the castle, of being amateurish after they refused to double the seating capacity and rejected her request for sponsorship.
She criticised their refusal to reduce the £8000 charge for hiring the castle's Great Hall.
The Scottish Fashion Awards, which have been staged in the Great Hall every June since their inception in 2006, are regarded as the most glamorous event in Scotland's cultural calendar.
The event has attracted supermodels and celebrities including Kirsty Hume, Agyness Deyn and Uma Thurman and is televised worldwide.
Ms Hartmann said: "I'm extremely sad that I have had to look elsewhere despite everything that I have done for the city I grew up in and Stirling Castle, in terms of its global reputation and awareness.
"The woeful lack of support we have received from Historic Scotland has left us with little choice but to move elsewhere.
"In fact, the words that spring to mind when I think of the castle's owners are amateurish and parochial.
"I am also very disappointed in Stirling Council who have always had a discounted sponsorship agreement and have reaped the benefits. They have had in my book a free ride for four years.
"It's very parochial, this Scottish attitude we have in a lot of public bodies. If you look at London fashion events, they are synonymous with historic buildings.
"This event is about celebrating a fashionable Scotland and not just what is on the catwalk. All I was asking is a barter arrangement - foregoe the fee for the castle in return for a branding exercise."
Ms Hartmann said she wanted to double the seating capacity to 500 with a marquee in the car park.
She said: "Historic Scotland came back and said it was impossible because it could interfere with their parking revenue."
The heritage body turned down her request for sponsorship for the event, whose backers include Marks & Spencer and Vogue.com.
Ms Hartmann said: "Ultimately it is very much their loss."
She said a shortlist of venues for the fifth awards next year was being considered and pledged that it would be the biggest yet.
A spokesman for Historic Scotland said: "We have to make charges to cover staffing and other costs, and venue hire is an important source of income which we use to invest in the care of our national heritage."
