The SNP Government is calling on opposition parties to support a record-breaking £34 million increase in funding for Scotland’s arts and culture, set out in the Scottish Budget.
The debate, to be held today in the Scottish Parliament, will highlight the importance of Scotland’s world-class creative industries and the need to secure long-term support for the sector.
This new funding commitment far exceeds the £25 million increase Labour had called for prior to the Budget announcement, marking a significant step towards the SNP’s goal of raising arts and culture funding by £100 million by 2028-29.
In just two years, the SNP Government has already achieved half of that target, underlining its dedication to Scotland’s cultural growth.
SNP MSP Evelyn Tweed emphasised the need for unity in Parliament to ensure the creative sector gets the support it deserves.
“Scotland’s world-renowned arts and culture sector deserves our backing, and the SNP Government has delivered with an additional £34 million in funding,” Tweed said.
She added that the SNP had worked closely with the creative sector before drafting the Budget, listening to their concerns about inflation, the cost of living crisis, and financial pressures exacerbated by Westminster policies.
Organisations across Scotland’s creative industries had raised fears over the impact of Tory-driven economic challenges, as well as Labour’s National Insurance hike, which threatens to squeeze already tight budgets.
Tweed pointed out that Labour’s call for £25 million in additional funding has been more than met by the SNP’s proposal and urged them to now support the measure.
“For Labour to demand £25 million for culture and then not back the SNP’s £34 million investment, which surpasses their own demands, would be absurd,” she said.
The SNP also criticised the UK Government, where culture funding was cut under Labour’s leadership in the recent Budget, as failing to recognise the importance of the creative sector.
Tweed said Scotland’s creative industries need certainty and stability, not political point-scoring.
“This is a Budget that goes above and beyond what opposition parties asked for on culture funding, and they now have a responsibility to back it in Parliament,” she said.
The SNP Government’s commitment to Scotland’s cultural sector includes not only financial investment but also a recognition of its vital role in society, contributing to the economy, fostering creativity, and promoting Scotland’s identity on the global stage.
The additional funding is expected to provide much-needed support to cultural organisations, venues, and artists across Scotland, helping them weather ongoing economic challenges while continuing to inspire audiences at home and abroad.
As the debate unfolds, the pressure will be on opposition parties to set aside political differences and ensure Scotland’s creative industries receive the support they need to thrive.
With this record investment on the table, today’s decision could mark a pivotal moment for the future of arts and culture in Scotland.