The SMG means a lot to me; I have contacted my MSP and received a sympathetic letter in return.
I would be happy to help the campaign, perhaps by busking or other musical ways to get our profile across.

Last weekend I e mailed 16 MSP‘s – my constituency MSP‘s and all members of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture committee. So far I have had 8 supportive replies. I quote from part of my constituency MSP, Mike Pringle’s response:- “Unfortunately as you may know the Scottish Government does not involve itself with the operational decisions of the Scottish Arts Council(SAC), which are the responsibility of the joint board of SAC and Scottish Screen. However the SAC do implement national cultural initiatives on behalf of the Scottish Govenment and it is with this in mind that I am tabling the following parliamentary questions to see what can be done to support traditional forms of music, dance and song in Scotland:
– To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote traditonal music, dance and song in Scotland.
– To ask the Scottish Executive what further assistance is available to groups who have received funding cuts from the Scottish Arts Council.”

I’m an outsider (English) so even more puzzled as to why Scottish Arts Council doesn’t continue to support Scottish music – not posh enough? not operatic enough? not cosmopolitan enough? not cool enough? Confused but not to be outdone I am writing a tune….

I have also written to 16 MSP‘s after I was inspired by Marrion Muliins (above). I wanted to take action to try and protect this music which I love. I have had nine positive answers from MSP‘s who seem to be on our side. I also wrote a protest song (for the first time in my life!) because I don’t think we should give up without a fight!

On the 18th June at 5.30 the parliamentary “Culture and Media” are discussing funding to traditional arts. I have written a 10 point case for traditional arts and sent it to them. I enclose it below. I hope you will all continue to lobby for fairness and respect in the treatment of Trad arts. Now is the time to make a difference as the news “Creative Scotland” is set up to replace the arts council. I hope this material is helpful.

THE CASE FOR FUNDING TRADITIONAL MUSIC


1. Scotland has one of the richest living traditions in Europe
2. Traditional arts, amongst all the arts that are funded, are what make our unique and distinctive contribution to world culture.
3. For every £1 spent the we gain at least £10 of voluntary effort for those who nurture the organisations which teach and promote
4. £70million is spent on the arts in Scotland from the Government. After years of lobbying and voluntary effort there has never been more that 1 million on all the traditional art combined. It is worth more than a 70th of the funding.
5. The “National Companies” (opera, ballet, orchestras, and theatre) are guaranteed secure funding. Traditional arts much more “of the nation” having been developed over a millennium, and should have at least the same level of respect and security
6. The acoustic form and instrumentation of Traditional arts mean that it can be performed anywhere from a bar to a concert hall and can be taken into the heart of the community.
7. The traditional arts by their nature are inclusive and participative. Much of the music is designed for social dancing, and a common repertoire of classic tunes enable instant connection between musicians including the Scots Diaspora.
8. The traditional arts are more highly valued by the people of Scotland than the arts of the national companies according to much research.
9. Visitors value the traditional arts as an expression of the essence of our community and an antidote to the commercialising and commodification of art.
10. Scottish Traditional arts contain an incredibly wide range of aesthetically profound, and complex expressions of our shared humanity, which connects us to peoples across the globe

Stan Reeves
12th May 2008