Scotlands beleaguered arts quango has landed a windfall from the SNP’s disastrous Budget – despite facing criticism for funding a pornographic sex show.
Creative Scotland received a £28 million public cash boost on Wednesday, even though it is understood to be facing the axe.
The arts body will be at the centre of a government review after it was found to have funded a porn film.
It is also alleged to have censored gender-critical feminists.
Artists have lined up to condemn Creative Scotland as ‘secretive’ and ‘ideologically driven’, while Harry Potter author JK Rowling said it was rife with ‘illiberalism and cronyism’.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison appeared to disregard such concerns as she delivered her Budget last week.
Official documents show it will receive £80 million next year, compared to £51.4 million this year.
Last night a writer who was targeted by a member of Creative Scotland’s staff over her gender- critical views hit out at the move.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling slammed the ‘illiberalism and cronyism at Creative Scotland
Jenny Lindsay, author of Hounded: Women, Harms and the Gender Wars, said: ‘I welcome the funding boost to the sector.
‘But without significant reform and engagement with those of us who have been highlighting our concerns about the climate of fear and self-censorship around certain issues, this will be a lost opportunity.
What is actually happening with the proposed review?’
Scottish Tory culture spokesman Murdo Fraser said: ‘Given the controversy surrounding funding Creative Scotland, SNP Ministers must ensure they deliver value for money for the taxpayer.
‘It is just common sense that taxpayer funds shouldn’t have been squandered on a porn film at a time when the SNP’s financial incompetence has left Scotland’s finances in a shocking state.’
In September, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson announced a review of Creative Scotland to ‘ensure its operations are optimal to the needs of the culture sector’.
This came in the wake of Mail on Sunday investigations which uncovered concerns over alleged mismanagement at the quango.
We disclosed how an employee tasked with helping authors tried to prevent at least one bookshop from stocking Ms Lindsay’s book as she deemed it transphobic.
Another incident involved arts worker Rosie Aspinall Priest, who is the partner of a Creative Scotland official who helps make decisions on grants for projects.
Poet Jenny Lindsay has called for reform of the arts quango after she was targeted for her views
Scottish Conservative Murdo Fraser has demanded the body deliver value for the taxpayer
She accused David Greig – the artistic director of Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre – of voicing support for allegedly transphobic views on social media posts, while he was awaiting the outcome of a funding application.
Earlier this year, Creative Scotland handed £84,000 of public money to a sex show.
After an outcry over the decision, bosses claimed there had been confusion over ‘terminology’ used in the funding process.
They said the application by the film’s director Leonie Rae Gasson did not make clear live sex acts would be featured – despite the mention of ‘genital contact’ – but agreed to withdraw the funding.
Mr Robertson last week said the review into the quango will begin early next year and will aim to publish its recommendations in the summer.
A government source previously said: ‘This will not be a review to fix Creative Scotland – Creative Scotland is over.’
Creative Scotland last night welcomed the funding boost.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘It is routine for public bodies to undergo reviews and while that process is ongoing we expect their work to continue.’