Neil Bibby (West Scotland)
(Lab):...We recognise that touring is vital in
enabling many performers to make income and reach new audiences,
but that has been made much more difficult because of Brexit.
Today, events on that issue are being held by the face the music
campaign. The Musicians
Union has said that national performing companies have
already been cutting back on touring in Scotland. That is not
surprising, considering that they have been dealt a 20 per cent
real-terms cut to funding over the past 10 years. Given that the
opportunities for domestic touring are already limited, it is
crucial that there is a clear plan to make international touring
easier...
Clare Adamson (Motherwell
and Wishaw) (SNP):...The Constitution, Europe,
External Affairs and Culture Committee, of which I am convener,
has been carrying out an inquiry that has included a session with
musicians from the Musicians
Union, the RSNO, Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland
and Active Events. The RSNO talked about the problems of carnets
and cabotage, which have been mentioned. It said:
“We need to access the European labour market to get the very
best musicians and keep the national orchestra at an
international level, but the combination of low salaries,
increased complexity and visa costs is making it extremely
difficult to recruit from outside the UK.”
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland
and Fife) (Lab): We are having this debate on
Scotland's international cultural strategy at a time when
artists, writers and film makers have expressed their fears for
the future of Scottish culture following the closures of a film
project, a book festival and an arts magazine within days of one
other.
I am very passionate about local arts and engage regularly with
an independent theatre in my constituency, as well as with other
arts groups and enterprises. I absolutely agree that the arts and
culture sector is incredibly important not only for the benefits
that it provides for participants in enriching their lives but
from a business point of view and for the contribution that the
sector makes to our economy.
However, let us be clear: there are serious issues and concerns
across the sector in Scotland. The Musicians
Union has sent a brief for today's debate, and I believe
that it is important that its points are put on the record. It
reiterates the point that
“the international cultural strategy is welcome”
and that it is important that the value of Scotland's arts and
culture industries is recognised and celebrated by Government.
However, the union argues that the strategy glosses over concerns
about culture strategy at home. It states:
“Unfortunately, this strategy is heavy on aspiration and light on
detail—and crucially funding.”
The key points from the Musicians
Union are that the strategy rightly notes that
“public sector support”
for arts and culture
“has been under pressure”
but does little to address specifically how the aspirations in
the strategy will be funded and delivered. National performance
companies continue to cut their touring in Scotland, and the idea
that they will find resources and capacity to increase
international touring on the back of those warm words is
optimistic.
When Scottish Ballet tours internationally, it will often leave
the orchestra at home, depriving musicians of work and income.
National performance companies, which have faced a 20 per cent
real-terms cut in the past 10 years, have been offered a 3 per
cent inflationary uplift in the 2024-25 budget. Although the
uplift is welcome, it does not come close to reflecting the cuts
that they have faced.
The additional £100 million per year for arts and culture over
the next five years, which was announced by the First Minister
last year, is welcome, but it should be viewed in the context of
standstill budgets over the past decade or more and as a
restoration of funding. Musicians
Union analysis has shown that Scottish Ballet has the
lowest ballet orchestra rate in the UK, that Scottish Opera has
the lowest opera orchestra rate and that the RSNO has the
second-lowest tutti rate. Only the RSNO is a full-time employed
orchestra. For the national performing companies, there should be
an aspiration to do better...
To read the whole debate, OPEN HERE
