Current status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 7 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any funding applications that Creative Scotland has received to support South Asian productions through the funding programmes that it manages, including those where the finance is provided by the National Lottery, how many applications in total there have been that were initially recommended for funding but where the non-departmental public body eventually reached a final decision not to support the project in (a) each of the last three full financial years and (b) 2025-26 to date.
A ‘South Asian production’ is a broad term which could span various languages, countries, art forms, and cultural contexts.
Generally the region is defined to include: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Regarding organisations and individuals that specifically described their project as ‘South Asian’ or referred to one of the countries that form South Asia, the following is a breakdown of the funding awards since 2022-23:
2022-23
Of these unsuccessful applications, 2 were recommended for funding (requesting £33,092)
2023-24
Of these unsuccessful applications, 12 were recommended for funding (requesting £203,081)
2024-25
Of these unsuccessful applications, 8 were recommended for funding (requesting £246,983)
2025-26 (to date)
Of these unsuccessful applications, 3 were recommended for funding (requesting combined value of £70,682)