Wednesday 22 February 2012

Arts Attacked


Last week saw a flurry of activity across the country as a variety of community and arts groups got involved in celebrating World Community Arts Day.2012 on Friday 17th Feb

Events around Edinburgh included street art with The Wee Blue Box, poetry from Craigmiller Writers Group, and a craft market and tapestry exhibition at Cockenzie House to name a few but WORLD Community Arts Day has a much wider reach with events happening in Ireland, Poland, Mexico and many other countries.


However, all is not well in the Arts Community as new legislation is due to be introduced on 1st April which will make events like this much harder to participate in.
Not only is the arts and culture sector facing massive cuts but now grassroots organisations are going to be taxed for being creative and innovative too!
Already the opportunities which exist for new work to be displayed are limited as many gallery fees are exclusive to those on a low income and community spaces where emerging talent can be developed and shared are continually being lost as budgets are cut and assets sold.



 The new Public Entertainment Licencing Fees to be introduced through the controversial Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act of 2010 has huge implications for the licensing of small scale, temporary, free artistic or musical events.

It has caused uproar in the artistic community with Creative Scotland, numerous other arts organisations and individuals speaking out about the impact this will have on grassroots arts and culture initiatives.



A petition calling for fees to be scrapped has been set up now WHICH YOU CAN SIGN HERE!

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