Yesterday, Creative Scotland announced the closure of the Open Fund for Individuals, effective from 2pm this Friday (30 August 2024), due to the Scottish Government being unable to confirm release of £6.6 million in Grant-in-Aid funding for the current financial year. Today, Creative Scotland further announced the delay in opening applications for the Access to Music Making and Strengthening Youth Music Funds, as the release of £1.8 million in funding from the Scottish Government remains unconfirmed.
As the organisation which exists to strengthen, empower and unite Scotland’s music industry – representing over 4,700 members working across all music genres and industry subsectors – the SMIA is deeply concerned by these developments. The impact on Scotland’s music industry, its talent pipeline and the wider cultural ecosystem will be severe and far-reaching.
We urgently call on the Scottish Government to confirm its cultural investment for this financial year, and to bring forward the release of as much of the promised £100 million in increased cultural funding as possible. This is vital to safeguard the sector’s immediate survival and support its long-term sustainability.
Scotland’s music industry is largely supported by freelancers and independent practitioners. It is already operating under significant financial strain, and the reduction in available funding further exacerbates this fragility.
Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals has been instrumental in supporting the delivery of countless music projects. Artists and industry professionals who rely on this funding will now face heightened financial insecurity, with many no longer able to sustain their creative endeavours. The recent submission of 370 eligible albums for 2024’s Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award is a testament to the impact of Creative Scotland’s funding support. Without it, many of these albums – and the industry careers they encapsulate and support – would not exist.
The consequences of the fund’s closure will be felt right across Scotland’s music industry, including record labels, managers, venues, promoters and festivals. Our entire music ecosystem will be affected. Equally concerning is the delay in the Access to Music Making and Strengthening Youth Music Funds. By restricting opportunities for young people to engage in music, this threatens not only the future talent pipeline, but also the future sustainability of our sector.
As many cultural organisations across Scotland await their fate in late October with Creative Scotland’s Multi-year Funding announcements (including us), this latest blow highlights just how precarious a situation our sector is now in at every level, and across every artform. For a country whose cultural output is so vibrant, never has it been so fragile. Without immediate intervention from the Scottish Government, our sector is at critical risk.
In response to these developments, the SMIA is taking the following actions:
1. The Sound of Young Scotland Award – Application Deadline Extension
We are extending the application deadline for the Sound of Young Scotland Award until midnight on Sunday 25th August. This will provide young and emerging Scottish artists with additional time to apply for this key support. The winner of the Sound of Young Scotland Award – supported by Help Musicians, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland and Youth Music – will receive a funding package worth up to £10,000 to support the recording and production of their debut album.
2. The SMIA Summit 2024 – A Call to Action
Our upcoming two-day, free-to-attend digital conference is now more vital than ever. Taking place across Thursday 5 and Friday 6 September, The SMIA Summit will focus on shaping the future of Scotland’s music industry, with discussions on strategic investment, sector resilience and growth. We encourage our community to participate actively, as your insights are essential in helping our industry navigate a continually turbulent environment, and in co-designing innovative solutions. You can register for The SMIA Summit 2024 (for free) now: smia.org.uk/summit
3. Amplifying Advocacy – Encouraging Member Engagement with MSPs
The SMIA will soon provide guidance to our members on how to effectively engage with their MSPs regarding the closure/delay of these vital Creative Scotland funds. It’s essential that our collective voice is heard, advocating for the urgent release of Grant-in-Aid funding from the Scottish Government and the strategic investment required to sustain our sector.
4. Supporting Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
We recognise the significant impact that these developments may have on the mental and emotional wellbeing of those in our industry. The SMIA provides resources and guidance for members seeking support during challenging times, which can be accessed via our help and wellbeing support page.
If you are working in – or aspiring to work in – music in Scotland and are not yet an SMIA member, you can join for free. We are committed to supporting you, and to ensuring that Scotland’s music industry remains vibrant, resilient and sustainable.
Robert Kilpatrick
CEO and Creative Director
Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA)