Millions of pounds worth of "pivotal" cultural funding has to be protected by the UK Government following the Brexit vote, the SNP have demanded.

The Scottish Government has requested that Westminster protects the arts funding available through the Creative Europe programme following Brexit – with the concerns over its future coming in the midst of Edinburgh's festival season.

The UK has been the single largest beneficiary of the funding from the Creative Europe programme, receiving grants totalling €40 million in 2014 and 2015, the first two years of the programme.

Several high profile Scottish arts organisations, and shows, have been given financial boosts by Creative Europe.

Those include YDance: Scottish Youth Dance, the Shetland Amenity Trust, which led the Follow the Vikings project which received nearly €2 million, and Scottish-based video on demand service Distrify.

Creative Europe is the European Commission's programme for support to the culture and the "audio-visual"sectors.

It is the successor to previous culture programmes and the Media film and TV programme, and is on a bigger scale, with a budget of €1.46 billion.

The SNP say that the UK's participation in Creative Europe under threat, "risking the vital funding and cross-border connections that this scheme brings to creative and cultural organisations across Scotland."

The effects of Brexit have other consequences for the arts in Scotland: galleries and museums have already expressed concerns over the possible increased costs of loaning art after the UK leaves the EU.

Galleries and museums are currently exempt from tariffs on the loaning of art to and from Scotland and other EU countries.

However, post-Brexit, gallery directors and gallery registrars - who manage the flow of art to and from galleries - fear being outside the EU will lead to extra charges and bureaucracy which could stifle the staging of top-class exhibitions.

Joan McAlpine, MSP, who convenes Holyrood’s European and External Relations Committee, said: "The funding that Creative Europe provides to the cultural sector across Scotland is absolutely pivotal in allowing people and businesses to flourish.

"We can see this month in Edinburgh just how positive an impact the creative and cultural sectors have on our country.

"It is vital that the Tory government commits to maintaining this funding after Brexit."

She added: "Companies across Scotland benefit enormously from being part of the EU and our creative and cultural sector is no different.

"Organisations from across this sector use vital funding to create and sustain high skilled jobs, as well as allowing the production and distribution of excellent cultural output."

She said that cinemas in Scotland have also benefitted from the Europa Cinemas Network.

Scottish films such as Filth and Macbeth have been awarded funding to have their productions distributed across Europe.

Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford home in Melrose in the South of Scotland has benefitted from the European Cultural Prizes element.

Ms McAlpine added: "It would be simply unacceptable for Theresa May to forfeit this funding as part of the Brexit negotiations.

"We all benefit from being part of a society that engages in cultural activities – and Creative Europe makes these experiences broader.

"The UK government must commit to maintaining this funding – if not, it will be each and every one of us that loses out."

A Department of Culture, Media and Sport spokeswoman said: "We will make a success of Brexit and ensure the UK's creative industries remain huge success stories, producing an extraordinary level of talent recognised the world over.

"The European Commission has confirmed that projects currently financed through the Creative Europe programme will continue to do so at present and we will look to ensure we get the best possible outcome for the UK's creative industries in Brexit negotiations."