Creative Scotland delays funding decisions amid internal review

Creative Scotland has deferred decision-making for its Open Fund for Individuals by up to four weeks while conducting an internal review to identify areas for improvement in its awarding process.

The move follows public and political fallout after its decision to award £85,000 to a controversial film featuring actors in “non-simulated” sex scenes. 

Scottish Parliament has launched a separate probe into Creative Scotland’s decision to back the project, asking the funding body to provide MSPs with details of the full criteria and process for handling funding applications.

Creative Scotland has revoked its support for the film and is seeking recovery of the funding.

A statement from Creative Scotland said that the review of its Open Fund for Individuals will result in “a short, temporary extension to existing timelines to enable additional assurance on applications that are recommended for funding.”

It confirmed that the process would not affect projects already issued a funding contract and aimed to “minimise impact on applicants”.