John Swinney, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister and acting Finance Minister, has reversed his decision to reduce funding for the national arts and culture sector. The proposed budget included cuts of almost £7 million, but these were canceled at the last minute.

As per the initial budget, Creative Scotland’s funding would have been slashed from £63 million to £56 million, a 10 percent decrease.

Following Swinney’s reversal, the proposed £6.6 million budget cut is no longer on the table. However, Swinney has clarified that this is the maximum amount of funding he can provide.

Per reports, Swinney stated, “There is a significant increase in the Scottish Government’s funding for culture and major events in the next financial year, precisely at a time when the nation requires the inspiration that the culture and arts sector can provide for all of us. I have decided that this represents the maximum amount of additional funding that I can provide.”

The news of the funding restoration comes after a petition signed by 15,000 people called for its reinstatement. Eight unions representing creative industries, including musicians, urged the government to reconsider the cuts, highlighting the potential loss of 8,500 jobs.

Initially, the government asked Creative Scotland to tap into its lottery reserves to close the funding gap. With the change in heart, that is no longer necessary.

“We had asked Creative Scotland to sustain investment next year by utilizing £6.6m from their accumulated lottery reserves in place of a further year of additional grant funding for general lower lottery income,” Swinney said, adding, “I am now in a position not to require that and will provide an uplift of £6.6m for 2023-24 to ensure Creative Scotland’s reserve funding can supplement rather than replace grant funding.”

Had the cuts gone through, it would have been another blow to the UK’s art sector, which saw upheaval after the defunding of the English National Opera.