🎙️ The Unscripted Podcast – Episode 2 Crisis, Censorship & Cultural Boycotts

In this episode, Rosie Kay and Jenny Lindsay prepare for an upcoming Freedom in the Arts online discussion, covering major challenges currently facing the UK cultural sector. From boycotts and de-platforming to arts funding and symbolic politics, they dive into the tensions shaping the creative landscape in both England and Scotland.

Key topics include:

• FITA’s evidence-gathering project on cancellations and boycotts, particularly related to Israel and Jewish artists.
• The Edinburgh Book Festival’s sponsorship crisis and the real-world impact of pressure campaigns.
• How flags, symbolism, and identity politics shape public space — from Birmingham to the Scottish referendum.
• Ongoing ideological bias in Creative Scotland’s funding, and the fallout for writers like Kate Clancy.
• Contrasts between Arts Council England’s “Let’s Create” model and Creative Scotland’s approach to grants.
• The value of independent funding and artistic freedom outside institutional structures.

They close with a powerful conversation on cancellation, accountability, and the importance of speaking up — even when institutions stay silent.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.