Scottish awards under threat

Interesting article in The Times a few days ago which highlights the very real and worrying implications of the credit crunch for the encouragement and patronage of the Arts. The superb Saltire Prizes in Scotland are now under serious threat as commercial sponsorship dries up. Previous winners of the prizes include A L Kennedy, John Burnside, Louise Welsh, Kate Atkinson, Liz Lochhead, Alan Warner, Kate Clanchy and Ali Smith. If a commercial or private sponsor is not secured shortly, this year's announcement of the winners (28 November) will be the last. Meanwhile, the Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial Award will not be inviting applications next year as the Scottish Arts Council have no funds available.