Scottish Government has money to spend on festivals

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has invited Scotland’s arts festivals and the wider culture sector to work with The Scottish Government and public bodies to improve the vital role of festivals.

Mr Robertson will set up the Strategic Partnership for Scotland’s Festivals to bring knowledge and expertise together to inform how the sector is supported into the future.

In an open letter to the festivals he said: “With the help of the sector which has already identified many of the necessary next steps I want to ensure that we are best supporting festivals. This will include additional Scottish Government funding which is committed to raise additional annual spending on culture and the arts by £100 million by 2028/29 aiming for an increase of £25 million by next year.”

He also said on X: “Scotland’s arts festivals are a jewel in the culture sector and national life. That’s why the Scottish Government is initiating a strategic partnership for Scotland’s arts festivals.”