Question reference: S6W-25130
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 1 February 2024
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Current status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what new funding will be available to allow Screen Scotland and enterprise agencies to "seek new opportunities to support and grow the screen sector", as set out in its publication, Scotland's International Strategy: Delivering for Scotland.
Answer
Thanks to continued investment from Scottish Government, the screen sector in Scotland continues to grow. The 2021 Economic Value of the Screen Sector in Scotland Report showed a rise from £567 million GVA in 2019 to £627 million GVA in 2021.
Scottish Government has a strong track record of supporting the Screen Sector and since 2018, has provided £50 million to Screen Scotland in regular Grant in Aid funding with an additional £14.8 million (£14,749,690) funding provided for Covid-19 support, skills, studios, and cinema projects.
This funding has enabled Screen Scotland to provide specialist support across the industry, including for new productions, skills and training programmes, and the film exhibition sector.
We remain committed to the screen and wider culture sector and are increasing funding to the culture sector by £15.8m next financial year to £196.6m, which is the first step on the route to investing at least £100m more annually in culture and the arts by the financial year 2028-29. In 2025-2026 we aim to provide an additional £25m to the culture sector.
This investment will drive up opportunities for participation in creative pursuits, support the production of new works, increase skills provision, and ensure that Scotland’s cultural output has platforms at home and abroad.
We are continually seeking new opportunities to support and grow the screen sector and we are committed to ensuring that the exceptional growth experienced in recent years continues to develop our sustainable creative economy, making Scotland an attractive production base and place for people in the creative industries to live and work.