Committee
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 15 May 2024
15 May 2024 · S6 · Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Continued Petitions
Venice Biennale 2024 (PE2030)
I have been to Venice on a number of occasions, but that was under my own steam and not for the arts and culture festival. In all seriousness, I read recently that the daily volume of visitors to Venice is now almost intolerable given the ability of the infrastructure to cope. I certainly know that, if you are staying in Venice, you really have to be up at 5 o’clock in the morning to have a wander around. Otherwise, you cannot move. The city is definitely under a lot of pressure. Nonetheless, it has a series of famous and celebrated arts festivals through the year, and Scotland’s participation in those is to be valued.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
PE2030, which was lodged by Denise Hooper, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review the cultural funding that it provides t...
Foysol Choudhury
Lab
Did we get an update on the Creative Scotland review?
The Convener
Con
We did. That is the matter to which I just referred. It explained the basis of the pause that was implemented. The review that Creative Scotland is undertaki...
Foysol Choudhury
Lab
I think that we should keep the petition open until the review is concluded. Maybe the convener will want to organise a committee visit to Venice as well. La...
The Convener
Con
Do you want me to formally record that as the recommendation, Mr Choudhury? Is a committee visit to Venice part of your consideration?
Foysol Choudhury
Lab
Yes—both things. Laughter.
The Convener
Con
In the first instance, we might keep the petition open, as Mr Choudhury suggests, and ask Creative Scotland, if the review is concluding, for an update on it...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I would love to go to Venice, but I do not think that I would ask the taxpayer to fork out for that, for the avoidance of any doubt.
The Convener
Con
I have been to Venice on a number of occasions, but that was under my own steam and not for the arts and culture festival. In all seriousness, I read recent...