The article, Businesses must step in with cash to save the arts, does not reflect the true state of culture funding in Scotland (News, August 12).
I agree we need different sources of funding for the arts and this was the subject of the successful International Culture Summit held last week in Edinburgh. However, while it is true that – due to steep public spending cuts – my portfolio budget in 2012-13 is lower than in previous years, your article omits to mention that I have, as far as possible, protected spending on front-line cultural services including maintaining in this financial year £83.25 million core revenue funding for our national collections, the Youth Music Initiative and the national performing companies – as well as £350,000 for their International Touring Fund. Creative Scotland's (CS) budget has actually increased in 2012-13, due to rising levels of income from the National Lottery. Therefore, despite a 2% reduction in its core budget, CS has more money to invest in arts projects this year.
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