OPINION: Glasgow’s Tax on Creativity

Guest columnist Katie McQuater explains how Glasgow’s ‘tax on creativity’ will destroy the grassroots culture which characterises the city’s art scene…

Glasgow’s vibrant arts scene has, in recent years, become one of the city’s great success stories. The myriad of spontaneous visual arts exhibitions and pop-up shows which characterise much of the city’s DIY artistic culture are intrinsic to that success.

The freedom of small-scale organisations and artists to use abandoned spaces or private flats as venues for creativity has long had a profound impact on the city’s arts culture, allowing grassroots artists the platform to experiment, exhibit and engage with the community. It is this spirit of innovation which saw Franz Ferdinand playing early gigs in a disused building, The Chateau, and arguably it is this same spirit of freedom to allow Glasgow’s creativity to flourish which has seen the city become such an important and renowned visual arts hub, in the process producing a number of Turner Prize winners.

However, changes to the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act of 2010 are putting this culture of creativity without cost, at risk. From 1 April 2012, all exhibitions and public shows will require a licence, even if these events are free. As it’s a criminal offence to carry out an activity without the relevant licence, those without would face a maximum penalty fine of £20,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both.

So why is this happening? In Glasgow City Council’s official briefing note, no explanation is offered, apart from the statement that the Scottish Government has decided the move is ‘necessary’. It’s appalling that Glasgow City Council is allowing this legislation to go ahead. In a city which has built its artistic reputation on the basis of creative freedom and the ability to exhibit almost anywhere, this move will undoubtedly see a massive reduction in the backstreet gallery spaces, private flat exhibitions and pop-up shows that make Glasgow so diverse. It will punish the many artists attempting to establish themselves and will stifle the city’s creative output.

 

Sofar Sounds Glasgow (© Iain Smith 2011)

Once such example is the work done by the marvellous Songs From A Room (sofarsounds.com); a global movement which offers artists and music lovers the opportunity to take part in intimate pop-up gigs hosted in private living rooms. Sofar held its inaugural Scottish event in October last year, an evening that attracted some of FPS!’s favourite acts such as Chasing Owls and Numbers and Letters to a small flat in Partick; it is fair to say that this would have almost certainly not have been viable under the new legislation. The bureaucratic process involved in obtaining a licence creates an unnecessary barrier to creative and innovative organisations such as Sofar, during what is supposed to be the Year of Creative Scotland.

Alex Kapranos has expressed his disappointment on the council’s decision, tweeting: “So,Glasgow council is trying to destroy any artistic life the city has? That’s bright.”, whilst Belle and Sebastian simply stated “Not cool GlasgowCC [City Council], not cool at all.”

Perhaps those at the top should look to the city’s motto – ‘Let Glasgow Flourish’ – to remind themselves of what it stands for, and what the city is set to lose, should this legislation go ahead. The arts are not there to be administered; creativity should be nurtured and celebrated, not hit with bureaucracy and red tape.

 

To petition Glasgow City Council to scrap the Temporary Public Entertainment Licence Fee, click here: http://www.change.org/petitions/scottish-government-scrap-the-temporary-public-entertainment-licence-fee

A link to the amended legislation can be found here: http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/57F0A7CC-ADC8-4798-BC8B-9E7A5C97F9F0/0/BriefingNotePEL.pdf

There will be a public meeting to campaign against the licence fee on Saturday 18 February. For more information, visit the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/292474694148218/

 

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