THERE is no systemic problem at Creative Scotland despite the decision to fund a sexually explicit project, MSPs have been told.
The Rein project, which spoke of “genital contact” and a “sex party” in its funding application, was awarded £84,555 from the agency, but the majority was paid back following an outcry about its plans for “non-simulated” sex scenes.
The project was also given an initial £23,210 in 2022 for research and development, but a total of £76,196 has been paid back.
Appearing before the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee at Holyrood on Thursday, Creative Scotland chief executive Iain Munro said there is no wider issue at the body.
READ MORE: John Swinney tears into Labour over NHS privatisation plans
“For us at Creative Scotland, we’re in no doubt the extent to which this is reputationally damaging, but I’m as concerned about the extent to which this is damaging for the sector as a whole and the risks it poses to undermine the case that we’ve been so diligently speaking about,” he said.
“I want to be quite clear though that one controversial award does not make a systemic problem with our processes, and I would want to reassure the committee and others more widely about the robustness of our processes.”
Robert Wilson, chairman of Creative Scotland, told the committee the agency is likely to be more cautious in future when it comes to funding awards.
“The senior leadership team at Creative Scotland, with the support of the board, has reviewed the process for open funding and have introduced new safeguards, including an additional stage of review for all applications that are recommended for funding,” he said.
“The board has also agreed to a more cautious approach to risk in terms of our future funding of projects with sexual content and those that involve vulnerable people or children.”
He said Munro retains the support of the board, as does the senior team at the agency and their staff.
Staff at Creative Scotland and those involved in the Rein project have suffered abuse as a result, Wilson said.
“A lot has been written and said about the matter in the media, online and elsewhere,” he said.
“Some of it has been accurate and measured, and some of it has not.
“However, an alarming amount of it has been offensive, dangerous, constituting attacks on the artists involved, marginalised parts of society, and unfortunately our staff.”
READ MORE: 'I would shoot you': Landlord sent abusive emails to Green MSP
Munro also pushed back against the accusation that Creative Scotland should have known about non-simulated scenes because of the use of the phrase “genital contact”.
“The mere mention of it does not mean real sex,” he said.
“Genital contact can be simulated – I would suggest you only need to switch on the TV or go to a streaming platform to see sexual activity of a simulated nature.”
Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said the Rein application spoke of the need for lubricant, which she said should have led to the agency assuming “this was much further than simulated sex”.
Munro replied: “I can appreciate you reading it in that way, it wasn’t our reading of it.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel