Audrey Carlin told a Holyrood reception that while the creative industries generated £4.4 billion annually the sector was facing tough times
Leading arts charity Wasps has called for Holyrood and Westminster governments for urgent help to navigate the cultural sector through a perfect storm of increased costs and decreased income.
Founded in Dundee in 1977, Wasps is the largest provider of studio spaces in the UK – supporting over 1000 artists, 25 charities and 81 creatives business at 21 sites from Shetland to the Borders.
Wasps chief executive Audrey Carlin told a Holyrood reception that while the creative industries generated £4.4 billion annually the sector was facing tough times.
The charity has produced a manifesto, Scotland’s Culture Matters: Support Our Artists, asking both governments to take action to reduce costs in maintaining Scotland’s heritage buildings.
It urges Westminster to scrap a punitive 20% per cent VAT charge on maintaining and repairing heritage buildings, which they say would directly reduce costs and have a positive impact on tenants’ livelihoods.
Carlin said: “Against a backdrop of challenging net zero targets, it makes little sense for VAT to be zero-rated on new buildings yet set at 20% on restoring and reusing existing buildings. The greenest buildings already exist.”
At a Scottish Parliament reception hosted by Keith Brown MSP, she asked for more support to help reduce energy costs in their buildings to hit net zero targets.
She said: “We’re facing an undeniably difficult period for the cultural sector. With Creative Scotland having had to make some tough choices around individual funding and multi-year schemes, which highlights the strain many arts organisations and individuals are under. As a charity and the UK’s largest provider of studio spaces for artists, Wasps is navigating these same challenges.
“It’s crucial that we remain in a strong position to support our tenants, who contribute so much to the cultural economy that is vital to Scotland’s future.”
Leading artists Kaleigh McGuinness, Laura Derby and Ade Adesina spoke of the importance of having affordable studios to support their work.
Adesina, an internationally acclaimed visual artists based in Aberdeen, said: “I found an inspiring space and environment when I moved to Wasps. Without Wasps I would not be where I am today. Wasps is my home, my living room, my place of joy.”
Keith Brown MSP, a member of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, said: “The government has just renewed its commitment to invest at least £100 million more annually by 2028/29 and we look forward to working with Creative Scotland to ensure increased levels of public funding are maximised to support sustainability in the sector and participation in the arts.
“Creative industries are an essential part of Scotland’s identity and economy.”
He said the Scottish Government had invested in cultural regeneration throughout Scotland with the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, adding: “This is support which I know Wasps have been able to turn into community and creative hubs for artists and makers such as the Inverness Creative Academy, Perth Creative Exchange and the soon to be completed Briggait Clydeside Market Halls.
“The exceptional contribution of Wasps’ 1000 artists and creatives and their reach and impact on local communities is important for the cultural and economic health of the nation.”
Research from the Institute of Historic Building Conservation said a reduction in VAT from 20% to 5% across the UK in buildings repairs could boost the economy by £15bn, create 95,000 jobs and lead to a reduction of 240,000 tonnes of CO2.
