Home of the arts

Published on Tuesday 14 February 2012 00:00

It is ludicrous to suggest, as Brian Monteith says (Perspective, 13 February), that Scottish artists would be hampered by independence. The arts are international, and cross political borders with ease.

Why would a Scottish passport within the EU be any less effective than a British one? Freedom of movement applies to all EU citizens, and would continue after independence, we are assured. Perhaps, after independence, we would find that more Scottish arts institutions would be Scottish-run, as happens in Ireland and many of the smaller European countries. Would this be a bad thing? I don’t think so.

Scotland is often seen as a provincial launching pad for artistic administration careers from England and elsewhere. Maybe independence could convince us that Scottish people can run our own arts institutions. This is not to deny the excellent work done by non-Scots in our arts but perhaps it might encourage more Scots to involve themselves in our cultural life.

As a professional musician living in Scotland but working almost exclusively abroad, I can see no reason whatsoever for emigrating if independence comes about.

Life in Scotland, and Edinburgh in particular, is delightful, and providing Edinburgh Airport continues to offer me access to Europe and other destinations, I can think of nowhere else in the world I would rather live.

That will not change after independence. I may even stay here more often!

Brian Bannatyne-Scott

Murrayfield Drive

Edinburgh

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