Culture secretary: 'Art is what being human is all about'
Mairi McAllan took over as culture secretary in May
New culture minister Mairi McAllan wants to support “art for arts' sake” as culture minister as she revealed her love for traditional Scottish vocal music.
Mc McAllan, who took over the brief from Angus Robertson after the Holyrood election in May, said she wanted to “drive the arts for economy,” but insisted that creative arts was a top priority for her to unite society.
“I care about it,” she said. “It’s what I’ll try to lead with, as culture secretary, absolutely driving the arts for the economy, but fundamentally, art for art’s sake as well.
“For me, it is not just a utilitarian approach to this, it’s valuable in itself. It’s so valuable in society right now and I think, reflecting on the Fringe and the festivals, that importance of coming together, from stepping away from behind the screen where people are so inclined to be acrimonious with one another than we might otherwise be, coming together, having a shared experience, challenging ourselves and challenging assumptions - that is what being human is all about.”
“My family are very arty, they all paint and draw and make music,” she added. “Sadly most of that talent has bypassed me, although I do sing traditional music, increasingly only for my mum, but I do love it. I’ve been steeped in it all of my life, particularly the visual arts, I was dragged around every gallery as a child.”
She said she was “continuing very much on the trajectory of funding” set out by Mr Robertson, which is due to increase arts funding by a total of £100 million a year by 2028-2029.
In January 2025, more than 250 arts organisations across Scotland were granted multi-year funding to allow them to plan ahead, which was widely welcomed by the sector.
“I am still working on a year to year basis, so I can’t pre-empt the outcome of the budget discussions where it will be allocated,” Ms McAllan said. “But I am conscious that I’ve been reflecting on how difficult it is for organisations to work year to year It’s also difficult for them to have potential cliff edges after three years, it’s difficult for the sector.”
Ms McAllan also revealed that the new national performing company for traditional music - confirmed by First Minister John Swinney at the Sound of Scotland folk music showcase at Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall earlier this week after being pledged in the SNP election manifesto - is to be formed out of separate funding.
A consultation has been launched by the Scottish Government into how such an organisation would raise the profile of Scottish folk music around the world.
“We very much want to give traditional and folk music parity with opera, the National Theatre and the orchestras, but I’m also very conscious that it doesn’t necessarily fit neatly into that existing model, but we can be creative,” Ms McAllan said.
She also revealed she would not rule out creating separate organisations to support development of different sectors of the arts in the model of Screen Scotland, which is to be separated from Creative Scotland following a review.
Ms McAllan pointed to the gaming industry, hinting that it - and visual arts - could eventually have their own development organisation.
“I’m not saying they should all replicate that flying the nest model,” she said. “But if there is more scope for Creative Scotland to do more on development, I’d be interested in that. There is scope for growth and I want to make sure that is harnessed.”
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