Devendra Kumar
Douglas Stuart, the acclaimed author of Shuggie Bain, has expressed his deep disappointment and frustration following the cancellation of Glasgow’s Aye Write book festival. The event, organized by Glasgow Life, was refused funding by Creative Scotland, leaving fans and book lovers devastated. Stuart, who was born in Glasgow, took to Twitter to voice his outrage, stating that the cancellation is not just a matter of whether the city deserves a literary festival, but rather a reflection of the country’s prioritization of arts and culture funding.
Stuart’s comments highlight the disparity in arts funding between Scotland and Ireland, with the latter actively supporting and promoting its cultural sector. He criticized Scotland’s government for its lack of commitment to the arts, noting that politicians are quick to tout the benefits of art in preserving jobs but fail to provide adequate support when it comes to preserving art itself.
The author’s distanced from the cancellation is particularly poignant given the significance of working-class people to Scottish literature. He believes that the festival’s focus on Scottish voices is crucial in providing a platform for underrepresented talents and voices. The festival’s cancellation leaves many concerns about the role of arts in Scottish society, with supporters calling for improved funding and support.
Nicola Sturgeon, a self-proclaimed book lover and former Scottish first minister, also expressed her disappointment at the cancellation, labeling it “really bad news”. The Scottish government has since announced a review of the issue, with First Minister Humza Yousaf promising to explore potential support for the festival. However, Creative Scotland has explained that the decision was made due to limitations on available funds and difficult budget decisions.
The cancellation has sparked a heated debate about the importance of arts and culture funding in Scotland. Douglas Stuart and supporters of the festival are calling for improved funding and support, emphasizing the sector’s key role in promoting creativity, innovation, and community engagement. As the festival’s cancellation leaves many fans and book lovers feeling let down and disillusioned, the debate over arts funding in Scotland is likely to continue in the coming months.