³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Creative Scotland - and its weary journey through parliament - was inevitably the subject dominating the conversation at the first public meeting of arts organisations and the new culture minister Mike Russell.

Traverse 1 was full to bursting with representatives from more than 100 organisations - music, opera, dance, festivals, film and broadcast, all noted.

It helped, that as former SNP shadow culture minister, he already knew most of the members of the audience.

But while it made for a slightly warmer reception, it didn't allow him to avoid any of the thorny issues. Like Creative Scotland.

For those who've drifted off while this new quango-not-a-quango has wound its way at snail's pace to the statute books, it involves merging Scottish Screen with the Scottish Arts Council, and won't be in place until next year.

This is a whole year later than planned, thanks to the Scottish Parliament voting the whole thing down last summer, due to their concerns over funding. Keeping up?

Anyway, Mr Russell was keen to clarify that it was now too late for turning back and he wouldn't be turning back.

It was, he said, a system desperately in need of reform but he assured the audience, it was still a work-in-progress.

If they had concerns they should make them known, he added.

Guyan Porter, who led the recent massive artist campaign about Creative Scotland, said he was concerned the new body had an expanded remit, but no expansion in its funding.

Mr Russell said he didn't think the remit was too different from the present one and that he'd asked both bodies to make savings in "backroom" costs, leaving more money free for frontline arts funding.

But he was under no illusions about funding in the current climate.

It was a fixed budget and organisations would have to work within that.

He was able to give an answer to another oft-asked question, whether the cost of setting up the new body would come from current arts funding.

No, said Mr Russell, it definitely wouldn't.

Marc Lambert of the Scottish Book Trust was anxious to know how arts organisations would make known their views - given the lack of communication until now.

Mr Russell said he envisaged regular meetings like this one - and the ones he held as environment minister.

He wanted, he said, robust debate but not a return to the endless consultations of the past few years.

"No more glossy documents, we've had our fill of those over the last decade," he said.

Angus Farquar, of environmental theatre company NVA, was worried Mr Russell's four-pronged focus on creativity, accessibility, opportunities and international possibilities only set them up for more form filling.

"It's a fine motivation but the problem is that we as artists have been jumping through hoops for years, trying to produce social and economic benefits and justify what we're doing," he said.

"We're a nation of great form fillers but not necessarily great artists. I think sometimes it's important to release money and take risks."

Mr Russell said he agreed entirely but hoped the new body would be able to take risks where required.

Broadcaster Lesley Riddoch wanted to know if new technology could improve audience access to Scottish culture. And was this event being podcast?

Former TV producer Russell stumbled momentarily and looked at the bank of cameras out front.

Yes, hissed his adviser, it was being podcast on the government's own website and would even be available on Youtube.