News – New funding structure for Scotland

The Scottish Arts Council (SAC) has introduced radical changes to its package of financial support to the arts in Scotland. The changes, which came into effect last month, see SACs former Core Funded Organisations re-structured to become Foundation, Flexible and Flexible Project organisations. The 47 Foundation organisations are being given additional investment to improve their sustainability with a new pool of funding devoted to what is described as the new and innovative.
The changes, first announced following a strategic review in 2006, are said by SAC to align its financial resources and corporate aims more closely, and SAC claims that this will lead to a greater focus on the needs of artists, a better chance of building a sustainable arts sector, and more opportunities for participation. Among the priorities identified in its 2007/08 Guide to Funds are the building of a culture of co-operation with partners and the arts community. SAC said, We are proposing that organisations with a distinctive and significantly unique role in relation to an artform, policy priority and/or place will be funded on a long-term basis&. Lottery funding is also set to be consolidated, with a period of consultation leading to the introduction of new funding schemes later in the year.