Senior SNP minister: ‘No way’ hardcore sex film should receive public money

Angus Robertson said he ‘shares the concerns’ over Creative Scotland’s funding for art project

There is "no way" a film project involving hardcore acts of real sex should be in receipt of public money, a senior SNP minister has said.

Angus Robertson said he “shares the concerns” over Creative Scotland’s decision to provide £84,555 of public money to an art installation involving “non-simulated” sex. Director Leonie Rae Gasson secured the funding for the Rein development in January through the National Lottery Open Fund.

The project’s website describes it as a 45-minute art installation that pays those who take part a fee of £270 per day to take part in “non-simulated” sex, including “hardcore” acts.

Scotland’s culture secretary has told MSPs he 'shares the concerns' raised at Creative Scotland’s decision to award public money for an explicit sex film. Picture: Getty Images

The recruitment advert states actors must be over the age of 18, with those with previous sex work experience – “particularly in porn contexts” – encouraged to apply.

The public funding allocation has come under fire, particularly at a time when the arts sector struggles to recover from the Covid pandemic.

Creative Scotland previously said the project’s funding application did not indicate how explicit the installation would be. A spokeswoman said: “We support freedom of expression and artists being able to push the boundaries of radical performance. However, the project Rein is considerably more explicit in its execution than was indicated in the application received to our Open Fund.

“As such, we are reviewing this award and will be discussing next steps with the applicant and with the other partners in the project.”

Angus Robertson. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Robertson, the culture secretary, said: “I share the concerns that have been raised, including by Creative Scotland itself. I can see no way where what has been described should be in receipt of public funding.

"As members are aware, the Scottish Government has no role in the decisions of Creative Scotland for the funding of individual projects. However, Creative Scotland are, I understand, rapidly reviewing this allocation as they have been clear that what has been reported simply does not meet what the funding was applied for.”

He was responding to a question from Labour’s Neil Bibby, who called for Creative Scotland to release the funding application in full after the project “attempted to recruit vulnerable people, including the disabled, at £300 a day to participate in sex acts so extreme they would be provided with psychological aftercare”.

He added: “I ask [Mr Robertson], does he agree that all money distributed should be clawed back? Creative Scotland has also stated it didn’t know how explicit the project was to be. So in order for the public to have confidence in their funding processes, does the Cabinet secretary agree with me that the original funding application should be published in full?”

Mr Robertson replied: “The specific queries that Neil Bibby has raised are very apposite. But what I would wish to do in the first instance is await the conclusions from Creative Scotland. On the basis of what is then concluded in the review, no doubt further questions will follow as to the consequences.”

Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart said: “Angus Robertson appears happy to pass the buck to Creative Scotland, but serious questions remain over this use of taxpayers’ cash.

“There is no excuse for the initial funding application not being published in full and for the SNP’s culture secretary to demand that the organisation do so. It is crystal clear that it was deeply inappropriate that public money was awarded for this film.

“As part of their review, Creative Scotland must urgently guarantee that this sort of award will never happen again.”