Culture sector faces ‘perfect storm’, MSPs warn

Rising costs and the pandemic have created a “perfect storm” for Scotland’s cultural sector, MSPs have warned.

Holyrood’s culture committee said the sector was facing acute challenges as it struggles to recover from Covid-19, with the cost-of-living crisis exacerbating problems.

The cross-party group of MSPs has urged the government to fast track “innovative approaches” to budgeting, including the use of public and private investment and multiyear funding.

Convener Clare Adamson said: “Increased operating costs come at a time when most cultural venues are still struggling to recover from the pandemic, and without truly innovative approaches to funding, there is a real danger that Scotland’s skilled cultural workforce will be lost along with some of our best loved cultural icons.”

The committee also urged the government to mainstream its culture budget to reflect the impact it has on the wellbeing economy.

It says this would help illustrate the contribution the sector makes to things like health via preventative spending.

The report comes as a number of venues and major events, including Edinburgh’s International Film Festival and Aberdeen’s Belmont cinema, cease trading.

The Centre for the Moving Image said it was forced to close the venues due to rising costs and fewer customers.

Throughout evidence sessions, MSPs were repeatedly warned that many more cultural institutions, including music venues and museums, were at risk of closure.

The report forms part of the parliament’s pre-budget scrutiny. The Scottish Government’s budget for the next financial year is expected in December.