Creative Scotland crisis: Dixon resigns after artist revolt

Creative Scotland, the national arts funding body, faced a crisis in 2012 after shifting to lottery-based project funding, sparking protests from artists and leading to the resignation of executive director Andrew Dixon on 4 December. The controversy began in spring 2012 when Creative Scotland withdrew its flexible funding scheme, forcing 49 arts organizations to reapply every six months. Critics, including playwrights, poets, and Turner Prize winners, condemned the body's language of 'delivering services' and 'outcomes,' and its funding of a BBC2 cookery show. A letter published in The Herald on 9 October, signed by 100 leading figures, accused Creative Scotland of 'ill-conceived decision-making' and lack of empathy. The board later pledged reforms, including multi-year funding. The crisis reflected a broader shift under the UK Coalition and SNP governments to replace direct arts funding with lottery money, a policy that disproportionately affects low-income lottery buyers. A Scottish Artist Union survey found three-quarters of visual artists earn under £5,000 a year.