There is growing concern that museums and galleries will be overlooked by Creative Scotland, the new body which is set to replace the Scottish Arts Council next year.
Stephen Allen, the Museums Association's national museum councillor in Scotland, said: "Until we know what Creative Scotland's remit is, it is hard to know what the relationship [between Creative Scotland and the museum sector] is going to be. That is a cause for concern."
John Stewart-Young, arts and heritage manager at Dundee City Council, said he was worried that the visual arts may not receive the attention that they should and that contemporary collecting, in particular, may be overlooked. "It is all to be made clear," he said. "To say there is a degree of anxiety would be fair comment."
The Scottish National Party (SNP) administration hopes the new body will be formally established in the first half of 2010, following Royal Assent, but it is still unclear where the set-up costs of about £4m will come from. The costs have not been finalised, but Russell said they would not be met from existing frontline arts budgets.
The budget of development agency Scottish Enterprise will not be transferred to Creative Scotland contrary to a pledge in the SNP's manifesto. Instead, Creative Scotland will provide research, intelligence, support and advocacy across the 13 creative industries, while Scottish Enterprise will look at which areas offer the greatest potential for economic growth and how this can be achieved.
Russell said: "What matters is ensuring public resources support effective services for those involved in the creative industries, regardless of who holds the budget.
"With more than one organisation involved in delivering support, creative practitioners will receive a better service through that effective partnership."
Stephen Allen, the Museums Association's national museum councillor in Scotland, said: "Until we know what Creative Scotland's remit is, it is hard to know what the relationship [between Creative Scotland and the museum sector] is going to be. That is a cause for concern."
John Stewart-Young, arts and heritage manager at Dundee City Council, said he was worried that the visual arts may not receive the attention that they should and that contemporary collecting, in particular, may be overlooked. "It is all to be made clear," he said. "To say there is a degree of anxiety would be fair comment."
The Scottish National Party (SNP) administration hopes the new body will be formally established in the first half of 2010, following Royal Assent, but it is still unclear where the set-up costs of about £4m will come from. The costs have not been finalised, but Russell said they would not be met from existing frontline arts budgets.
The budget of development agency Scottish Enterprise will not be transferred to Creative Scotland contrary to a pledge in the SNP's manifesto. Instead, Creative Scotland will provide research, intelligence, support and advocacy across the 13 creative industries, while Scottish Enterprise will look at which areas offer the greatest potential for economic growth and how this can be achieved.
Russell said: "What matters is ensuring public resources support effective services for those involved in the creative industries, regardless of who holds the budget.
"With more than one organisation involved in delivering support, creative practitioners will receive a better service through that effective partnership."
