PROCEEDS from the national lottery may mean the new independent
Scottish Arts Council could have an extra #6m to spend.
Previously a sub-committee of the Arts Council of Great Britain, the
Scottish Arts Council becomes autonomous from April 1, funded by and
responsible to the Scottish Office.
Money from the lottery, which is expected to flow from January, will
be allocated on application to projects approved by a SAC committee. Mr
William Brown, the chairman, said: ''There will be some teething
troubles but it is a very exciting prospect. We are talking about an
unknown but probably very substantial amount of money, conservatively
estimated at about #6m. Overnight we may have 25% more money to
allocate.''
Most of the money is expected to go on capital expenditure, mainly
buildings for housing the arts. However some money will be spent on
maintaining buildings.
The SAC's annual grant of #23m remains the same for the coming year.
Mr Brown said he took consolation from the fact that the Arts Council of
England had suffered a 2% reduction of their grant.
Ms Seona Reid, director of the SEC, warned that the move to
single-tier authorities could have a damaging effect on the present high
level of support received from councils.
''At worst we may see a reduction in funding for the arts,'' she said.
''Particularly small authorities might have difficulty or be unwilling
to fund organisations that are operating on a regional or national
basis.''
In addition, arts departments and arts staff could be submerged into
larger council departments which might marginalise what the arts had to
offer.
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