Scottish Government announces £600,000 funding for youth arts projects

Published Thursday 15 May 2008 at 14:05 by Thom Dibdin

The Scottish Government has announced a £600,000 package of funding available for arts projects that create social inclusion for young people.

The so called ‘CashBack’ funding will use money seized from convicted criminals and require matched business funding from the private sector - in cash or kind - to release £1.2 million over the next two years.

Speaking at the launch of the scheme at the beleaguered North Edinburgh Arts Centre, itself in a funding crisis at present, Scottish Culture Minister Linda Fabiani told The Stage this is the first tranche of £1.8 million proceeds of crime money that has been earmarked for the arts over the next two years.

She said: “I am always very keen if we can use our money as leverage for other money. Arts and Business will be administering the scheme. Organisations like North Edinburgh Arts Centre will have to apply for funding, but centres like this will have various options for schemes, whether they apply direct or get used as a venue.”

The project is the first culture scheme supported by the Proceeds of Crime Act. The funds will be used to promote social inclusion through the arts for young people between ten and 19 years, in particular those who may not otherwise have such opportunities.

Taggart star Alex Norton who started his acting career in a youth drama group run by the Glasgow Corporation in the sixties was on hand to give the scheme his support.

He told The Stage: “I know from my own experience what a difference it makes to be exposed to the arts and culture at a young age. Once you get involved in acting, music, what ever, you have got something to occupy you, something to aspire to. The more we can get for the arts and particularly arts for young people, the better.

“I come from a working class background the same as a lot of these kids who are going to benefit from this. These youth clubs that were funded by the corporations don’t seem to exist any more. I don’t know why they stopped, but they just don’t happen any more.”