Organisations across the whole of Scotland will benefit from the awards. Thirty-five per cent of all organisations that have been awarded funding work nationally, no matter where their base is. I assure Kevin Stewart that organisations that are based in Aberdeen and north-east Scotland will receive support. In Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, 13 organisations—including six that have not received core funding from Creative Scotland previously—have been successful. That includes Belmont Community Cinema, which pleases me particularly.

In the budget, significant additional resources are allocated for Screen Scotland, and the production growth fund will help it to attract and develop more screen projects that are from Scotland or are intended to take place in Scotland.

I share the member’s concerns about the full value of productions in Scotland not being received in Scotland, as has recently been highlighted. I remain seized of that issue and have discussed it with the BBC, and I am in on-going dialogue with Ofcom to make sure that those concerns can be assuaged, because it is in everybody’s interests for the screen sector to go from strength to strength. Its gross value added is currently valued at £635 million per annum. We all hope that it can become a billion-pound industry by 2030. We all have a stake in that.

Music venues in the Lothians, as in Kilmarnock, have been hit hard in recent years by the coronavirus pandemic and the cost crisis. It is estimated that music venues in Scotland are, on average, making only half a per cent profit on their turnover. The targeted relief that has been announced by the Scottish Government will reduce overheads for eligible venues and support the wider cultural ecosystem and night-time economy within the limited finances that are available. That is what will happen in Edinburgh, in Kilmarnock and right across the country.

Questions regarding the day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including queries relating to the timeline of site reopenings, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland. I have asked its chief executive to respond directly to the member with a full reply to his question in writing.

I know that the member shares my interest in traditional skills, including stonemasonry, and no doubt we will both want to support HES in that regard.

In 2024-25, the total allocated budget for the constitution, external affairs and culture portfolio was £332.6 million. We expect to spend £16.8 million of that on programmes and activity outside the United Kingdom, which represents 5 per cent of the total budget for the portfolio. The actual spend for 2024-25 will be available only after the end of the financial year and will be published in the final accounts after March 2025.

I very much understand Foysol Choudhury’s question. He is a Lothian MSP and I represent Edinburgh Central, so we know how important the cultural infrastructure in the nation’s capital is.

It is right for us to turn our attention more towards capital financing of the cultural sector. I hope that the member agrees that that would be a very good reason for the UK Government to give greater clarity around multiyear capital funding. If we had greater clarity about that and the appropriate quantum, we would be able to do much more than is currently the case. We have delivered significantly when it comes to revenue funding for the galleries, but we have also made capital provision. I would love to be able to make more. We will continue to work with the galleries to make sure that we can do as much of that as possible in the years ahead.

We are committed to creating, protecting and nurturing cultural opportunities for everybody in Scotland, regardless of where they live. That is why we support and fund organisations that work in rural and island communities. For example, via our regular funding to Creative Scotland, we support many organisations across rural areas, including Shetland Arts, Timespan in Helmsdale, Alchemy Film & Arts, which is based in Hawick in the Scottish Borders, the Wigtown Festival Company, and the Stove Network in Dumfries and Galloway.

The timing of Finlay Carson’s question is excellent. I confirm that Creative Scotland will, tomorrow morning, announce details of its multiyear funding for cultural organisations and venues right across Scotland, rural and urban. That will be transformational for the sector, and it is possible because of the record financial commitment to culture and the arts in the forthcoming Scottish budget. I urge all MSPs and all parties to look out for that announcement and to vote for the forthcoming budget.

As I have already outlined, the Scottish Government is doing a lot to deliver support for galleries and the wider culture sector, and I hope that Brian Whittle will vote for that in the budget. I acknowledge there are still challenges that the sector is not yet able to fully manage and also opportunities that it cannot yet make the most of. The Scottish Government is about to be halfway to fulfilling our commitment to increase the annual culture spend by an additional £100 million. I hope that Brian Whittle welcomes that, as it will make a significant difference. I give a commitment that galleries are an important part of the financial and wider considerations as we review culture provision for the years ahead.

I commend Sue Webber for raising the theatre, as other colleagues have done, including my colleague who is the constituency MSP. I agree that we should be supporting cultural venues right across Scotland.

Where there are particular issues and distresses associated with finances or, as in this case, RAAC at local organisations, venues and cultural outfits, my officials and I are very keen to speak with them. We have worked very hard in recent years to ensure that the cultural infrastructure of Scotland is protected. If the member passes on my invitation to the theatre, I will be content to meet its representatives and discuss any plans or requests for support that they may have.