THE team behind an award-winning Scottish performance piece have hit out after being criticised by a Tory MSP who they say got his facts wrong.
On Wednesday, the Scottish Express ran a story aimed at Creative Scotland over its decision to fund projects linked to prisoner rehabilitation.
The paper reported that £105,000 had been given to a “project for those being released from prison, called A Giant on the Bridge”.
The piece, by Liam Hurley and Jo Mango, was developed with the Distant Voices Community – people from across the criminal justice system.
A description of it reads: “Every year in Scotland thousands of people return home from prison to an uncertain future. A Giant on the Bridge reveals the human heartbeat within one such story.”
Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr questioned why this should be given funding, telling the Express: “Hard-pressed taxpayers will be outraged that this SNP quango has squandered this six-figure sum on courses for prisoners.
“This is a prime example of the SNP’s soft-touch justice culture which even seems to be embedded in Creative Scotland.
“While rehabilitation is important it is just common sense that taxpayers’ money shouldn’t have been spent on pandering to criminals with these workshops.”
Responding, the team behind the project said they would “like to point out a couple of inaccuracies in the Scottish Daily Express article”.
“First, A Giant on the Bridge has received £90,680 from Creative Scotland, not £105k as detailed and secondly, the funding did not support workshops in prisons.”
They went on: "A Giant on the Bridge has been supported by Creative Scotland because they recognised the artistic merit of the piece, creative team and performers involved in making an excellent work of Scottish art.
“Our hope is that A Giant on the Bridge, by shining a light on the hidden stories of prison homecoming, can help us all to understand the multiple perspectives of this experience – including victims of crime. And that this deeper understanding helps play a part in making Scotland both a safer and a fairer country.”
They said that the production has been seen by over 2500 people so far, was included in the prestigious Made in Scotland showcase this summer, where it received five-star reviews and acclaim from critics, won The Skinny/Fest Besties Award, and was shortlisted for two other prestigious festival awards.
The production is part of the Celtic Connections Festival and is performing this evening at the Tramway in Glasgow.
The creative team said they would “be delighted to welcome Stephen Kerr and his colleagues to come and see the show and chat with us about it afterwards”.
