Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you for your opening remarks. This will be a round-table, free-flowing event. I know that members are already coming in, but I will go to questions from Mr Cameron first.

David Watt wants to come back in, but I am conscious that some people have not contributed. Does anyone else want to come in before a final thought?

I am looking to see whether anyone wants to come in on that question.

That was helpful—thank you. We have exhausted questions, so I suspend the meeting briefly while we change over to our next panel.

A warm welcome back to our second evidence session.

We are joined by Lori Anderson, director, Culture Counts; Julia Amour, director, Festivals Edinburgh; David Watt, chief executive, Culture & Business Scotland; Chris Breward, director, National Museums Scotland; Brenna Hobson, executive director, National Theatre of Scotland; and Francesca Hegyi, chief executive, Edinburgh International Festival. A warm welcome to you all.

Last year, our budget scrutiny coined the term “perfect storm” to describe what was facing the cultural sector. I first ask each of the witnesses to reflect on where they are now. I think that most of you saw the previous evidence session with Creative Scotland.

I will go round the room from left to right.

We will probably come back to that. We will have the introductory comments first, and then we will come back to you later.

We have not come to Lori Anderson yet. Lori, do you want to come in on this subject?

As well as the question around funding, yes.

I have Ms Forbes, Mr Stewart, Mr Ruskell and then Mr Brown. I am sorry—everybody wants in. I will call Kate Forbes first.

Those are good points. The culture in communities report was mentioned by a number of contributors. One of the committee’s recommendations in that report is about cultural representation at the community planning partnership level. The Government is yet to respond to that report, but that should happen soon.