John Swinney has demanded "a very full and comprehensive explanation from Creative Scotland" after the arts quango was accused of misleading MSPs over a sexually explicit performance piece. Iain Munro, the arts funding body's chief executive, has long insisted that they did not know that Rein by Leonie Rae Gasson would include non-simulated sex. However, documents released to The Herald under Freedom of Information show that the successful application for a grant made explicitly clear that there would be “work on a sex scene with genital contact" involving three members of the cast.
READ MORE: Robertson hauls in Creative Scotland boss over Rein Speaking to the PA, the First Minister said: “The Culture Secretary [Angus Robertson] has expressed his concerns about the information that’s come to light and he’s asked for urgent discussions with the chair and chief executive of Creative Scotland because we have got to understand the substance of this issue. “I share the concerns that the Culture Secretary has expressed and I think we need to see a very full and comprehensive explanation from Creative Scotland.” He added that it was not appropriate for the Scottish Government to take decisions on individual arts programmes.
Mr Swinney said: “Creative Scotland has got a specific role to undertake, but it must undertake that in a way which is open and transparent.” The project was awarded £23,219 in lottery funding through Creative Scotland in August 2022 for research.
