THE National Gaelic arts agency, Pròiseact nan Ealan (PNE), is to close after severe funding cuts.

The Western Isles-based organisation – which has been at the forefront of Gaelic arts development for the past 25 years, has been denied vital core grants from Creative Scotland, the public body responsible for distributing financial support to creative industries across the country.

After a year of struggling to survive, there is no hope of a last-minute reprieve.

Job losses will result as a consequence of the demise of the cultural body. It used to have around 12 staff, lately reduced to five.

PNE will cease to operate in December, the agency revealed after it won the Arts and Culture prize at the annual Scottish Gaelic Awards.

Board chairwoman Catherine Macdonald, said: “Funding is a growing problem for arts organisations and, sadly, Pròiseact nan Ealan is not immune from this.

“My thoughts are with the staff whose hard work and commitment to Gaelic arts has been validated once again by (the) arts and culture award.”

PNE was previously funded as an annual client of Creative Scotland, receiving £75,000 in 2014.

Creative Scotland previously said it was “not appropriate to discuss the details of individual applications with anyone other than the organisations themselves”, because of business confidentiality.

It provided the body with a detailed assessment which expands on the funding decision and met with them to discuss alternative funding routes.