Labour to force Holyrood vote on £6.6m cut for Creative Scotland
A motion, calling for the in-year reduction to be reversed with "immediate effect" will be debated at the Scottish Parliament.
Labour is to force a vote at Holyrood on plans to cut £6.6 million from arts body Creative Scotland's budget for this year.
A motion, calling for the in-year reduction to be reversed with "immediate effect" will be debated at the Scottish Parliament.
And with First Minister Humza Yousaf having used his recent speech to the SNP conference to pledge more cash for the culture sector, Scottish Labour culture spokesperson Neil Bibby said it would be the "height of hypocrisy" for SNP MSPs to vote against their motion.
Labour is to challenge the Scottish Government on the issue after the First Minister told his party conference in Aberdeen that ministers would "more than double our investment in Scotland's arts and culture" over the next five years.
Mr Yousaf added: "This means that by the end of the five years, our investment will be £100 million higher than it is today"
However, in September the Scottish Government confirmed the £6.6 million funding reduction was going ahead - reversing a commitment which had been given by ministers in February.
Mr Bibby said: "Scottish arts and culture is facing a perfect storm and the SNP government is piling pressure on instead of helping."
He added that the First Minister's "promise of jam tomorrow will be cold comfort to all the organisations facing collapse right now".
The Labour MSP continued: "It would be the height of hypocrisy for SNP MSPs to defend their government's crushing budget cuts to Creative Scotland mere days after the First Minister promised a funding boost.
"This debate is an opportunity for the SNP to commit to helping the sector now and set out clear timescales for when it will receive further support.
"People in the sector want to know what these new promises on funding are worth, particularly when the SNP broke its pledge on culture funding this year.
"All parties must come together to back Scotland's iconic arts sector by voting for Scottish Labour's motion."
The Scottish Government says Creative Scotland has agreed to use part of its reserves to cover this year's shortfall.
A spokesperson said: "Our plan will see Scottish Government investment in arts and culture more than double, so that in five years our investment will be £100 million higher than it is now.
"This is a huge vote of confidence of our cultural sector and will help to protect this treasured sector and the impact it makes on people’s lives.
“Through this increased investment we want to drive up opportunities for participation in creative pursuits, support the production of new works, and ensure that Scotland’s cultural output has platforms at home and abroad.”
“The Culture Secretary has given the Creative Scotland Board a commitment that he expects the Scottish Government will be able to cover next year’s £6.6 million shortfall as part of next year’s budget, subject to the usual Parliamentary process.
"In the meantime, Creative Scotland has agreed to use part of its own funding reserves to cover this year’s £6.6 million shortfall to support the culture sector and help protect jobs this year, ensuring no detriment to their regularly funded organisations as a result of this decision."