THE pro-independence cultural movement, the National Collective, has decided to wind down.

A week before the Scottish National Party is expected to make unprecedented gains in the General Election, National Collective has said its "moment has passed".

The collective, which involved a national series of events, concerts, Fringe shows, campaigning and a nationwide festival called Yestival, became a voice for performers, writers, poets, spoken word artists and others who were campaigning for an independent Scotland.

As well as its 'We are National Collective' campaign, it energised a primarily younger electorate and helped organise an open letter signed by hundreds of artists who supported independence.

However, it was not wholly without its critics.

In 2013, the Scottish composer James MacMillan caused controversy when he Tweeted: "I don't understand artists who suck up to Government politicians, or those who want to huddle in 'collectives' like Mussolini's cheerleaders."

Yesterday he added: "It will always be seen as a pro-government organisation - fatal for artists."

In recent weeks there has been public and private discussions over the future of the National Collective, and what its role should be post-referendum.

One of its founders, Ross Colquhoun, now works as a strategist for the SNP.

A statement from the organising group of the body, said: "National Collective brought together supporters, organisers, performers, participants, writers, artists and speakers to play their part in building a colourful creative non-party movement whilst campaigning tirelessly for Scottish independence.

"To be a part of it was exciting, energising, inspiring and beautiful.

"National Collective belongs to a time and a place, and that moment has passed.

"Instead, we need to take the massive significance of that transformative journey and learn from our campaign experiences.

"It is now time to embed what was learnt into the life of our country; to normalise creative participation in public life and to find new ways of doing things to make Scotland better."

It said the work of the collective now "represents a huge shift in how we think about our cultural and political life in Scotland".