THE closure of the Creative Scotland fund for individuals working in the arts and culture industry is a “disaster on a human level”, one artist set to be impacted by the cut has told the Sunday National.

Ali Heather, a writer and presenter, said the closure of the Open Fund had “very grim” consequences for artists in Scotland.

It comes after Creative Scotland announced it would be closing its Open Fund to new applicants at the end of August, amid “uncertainty” over the financial support the organisation receives from the Scottish Government.

‘Independence movement and creatives used to be in lockstep’

HEATHER (below) reflected on the importance of funding the arts to help boost the case for independence.

“The SNP and the creative scene were in lockstep for a few years. It's unusual for governments and the arts to work closely and have united outcomes, but we were all working together towards independence," he said.

“Scotland's distinct, different values, identities and stories were emerging in communities and in national works, and that was a shared ambition.”

Heather said that the Scottish Government continued to be “emotionally supportive” of the arts and culture sector, but that this did not translate into action.

READ MORE: Meet the Scots set to be disproportionately affected by the Winter Fuel Payment cut

“The Scottish Government has kept up the welcome words, but the money has stopped.

“We’re now in the situation where creatives are now more critical of the Government, and that’s probably the better situation to be in."

He added: “I don't think people stop supporting independence because the current government at Holyrood has let us down.

“But I understand it’s an additional pressure for the SNP because if they fail us, there's no one who can come in and take their place and keep working for Scotland.”

‘If you’re not practising, are you an artist anymore?’

HEATHER said that the closure of the fund would mean that many artists would no longer be able to create.

“Poetry, painting, performance all take dedication and so much time. When you're working long hours at badly paid jobs - as most people I know in the arts do - they cannot get themselves up to the creative level that their potential would give them,” he told the Sunday National.

“With the closing of the fund for individuals, the money just won't be there. And so the few times a year that creative people manage to get a bit of funding to develop their work - that will go.

“If you're not practising, are you an artist anymore?”

READ MORE: 'My MSP had to get involved so that I could access contraceptive healthcare'

Heather called on the decision to close the fund to be reversed, but that this would only help the sector in the short term.

“We were already in a desperate situation before the cut,” he said.

“The SNP need to make the argument to Parliament and to the electorate to raise taxes. Westminster is cutting our funding and imposing new austerity, and that’s being passed on.”

He called into question the Scottish Government’s “outrageous” decision to fund the Council Tax freeze, resulting in less money and more cuts.

He added: “None of us really care who’s in power down the road, we just need the money coming through to pay artists for their time.”

‘Artists left feeling betrayed’

MEANWHILE, Scots singer Iona Fyfe condemned the decision to close the fund, telling the Sunday National that “the constant U-turns and ultimate cuts have left the arts sector in a state of uncertain limbo”.

“The decision to close the Open Fund For Individuals is one that Creative Scotland has had to make due to budget uncertainties placed upon them by the Scottish Government,” Fyfe (below) said.

She asked: “Where is the £100 million promised last year at [the SNP] party conference?”

Last October, then-first minister Humza Yousaf pledged to increase arts and culture funding by £100m within five years. As recently as August, the Scottish Government has continued to commit to this figure.

Fyfe said many artists will be left feeling “betrayed”, particularly with the backdrop of the Edinburgh festivals.

A study conducted last year by Edinburgh Festivals found the festivals’ economic impact in Scotland increased to £407m in 2022.

“Individual freelancers are the cultural ambassadors who will deeply feel the impact of this funding cut,” Fyfe added.

When Creative Scotland announced the fund would be closed, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government already provides significant funding to Creative Scotland each year and will continue to do so.

“We have increased arts culture funding this year, as the first step to achieving our commitment to invest at least £100 million more annually in culture and the arts by 2028-29.”

The spokesperson added: “The Scottish budget continues to face significant challenges. We are considering the implications of the actions announced by the Chancellor on July 29 for our public finances, and the next steps required by the Scottish Government.”