JK Rowling has condemned ‘illiberalism and cronyism’ at Scotland’s crisis-stricken arts quango after the Mail uncovered serious concerns over alleged mismanagement.

The Harry Potter author said such practices had been an ‘open secret for years’ in a post on X, formerly Twitter, following our revelations in Saturday’s paper.

The wide-ranging investigation revealed that a Creative Scotland employee tasked with helping authors – Dr Alice Tarbuck – tried to prevent a bookshop from stocking a book by Jenny Lindsay, which Ms Tarbuck had deemed to be transphobic.

Ms Rowling, who has championed gender-critical authors, tweeted: ‘The illiberalism and cronyism of government-funded Creative Scotland has been an open secret for years, but “literature officer” Dr Alice Tarbuck’s deliberate effort to damage Jenny Lindsay’s career… shocks even me.’

+2
View gallery

Harry Potter author JK Rowling claimed that ‘cronyism’ at arts quango Creative Scotland has been ‘an open secret for years’

Her intervention came as a former UK Government minister demanded a crunch summit with Culture Secretary Angus Robertson over the ‘unfolding crisis’ in arts funding.

Lord Duncan of Springbank – Deputy Speaker in the House of Lords – is calling for a meeting with top artistic figures to come up with a ‘new, sustainable model’.

Artists including leading dramatist and theatre director David Greig will also be present for an ‘open and frank discussion’ – together with Scottish Secretary Ian Murray.

The’s Mail investigation, published on Saturday, raised concern over the way the £96million quango is run, as artists lined up to condemn it as ‘secretive’ and ‘ideologically driven’.

The disclosures also come after the quango announced that it had closed a fund for artists to new applications, blaming the SNP Government for being unable to ‘confirm release of £6.6million in grant-in-aid budget in the current financial year’.

In a letter to Mr Robertson, Lord Duncan said: ‘Something appears to be badly wrong with the funding of the arts in Scotland.

+2

View gallery

Creative Scotland was last week accused of being a ‘cash machine for the middle classes’

‘I know you [Mr Robertson] have a long-standing interest in Scotland’s vibrant artistic community, and must be as troubled as I.

‘Theatre director David Greig, poet Jenny Lindsay, and writer Ewan Morrison have approached me to see if I can bring together the interested parties, together with arts journalist Siobhan Synnot, for an open and frank discussion of the unfolding crisis.’

The peer said he proposed a meeting with Mr Robertson on September 9, adding that he is ‘aware that when Scotland’s governments work together, much can be achieved’.

Lord Duncan said: ‘I do believe that a new, sustainable funding model can be found that allows Scottish artists to fully realise and develop their talents.

‘The first step in that direction would be a good faith meeting of interested parties to see what can be done differently.’

Artists have criticised Creative Scotland for being ‘opaque’, ‘over-bureaucratic’ and ‘a cash machine for the middle classes’.

Award-winning author Ewan Morrison said it ‘needs to be replaced by a leaner public body that is more suited to serving the needs of Scotland’s artistic communities’.

He added: ‘It no longer serves the arts in Scotland but serves itself and its own growth.’

One leading artistic figure, who preferred not to be named, told the Mail: ‘Holyrood may indeed bail out Creative Scotland this time but the problem will come back – the radical way forward would be reform.

‘And some are even suggesting a new body altogether.

‘Everything should be on the table as this is a dangerous moment for the arts in Scotland.’

They added: ‘Ideologues have moved in to control the arts scene in Scotland and that influence has to be wrested off them and given back to the artists.’

The Scottish Government and Creative Scotland were contacted for comment.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Robertson said: ‘I understand the concerns of many people within the artistic community, and I want to reassure those individuals that the Scottish Government is listening very carefully to the representations they are making.

‘We are dealing with very significant challenges in the public finances, which are exacerbated by the UK Government’s recent announcements.

‘We are investing significantly already in cultural activities, with over £55million of investment in Creative Scotland this financial year.

‘The government will set out in due course what further steps we can take to address the challenges that we facing and to make sure that we address the issues that have been drawn to our attention by the artistic community.’

Creative Scotland did not comment directly on criticism from leading artists and opposition politicians last week, but pointed to its annual plan which states: ‘We are a staff team who are passionate about culture and creativity, using our extensive knowledge and experience, as well as funding, to help create the conditions for creative development across Scotland to thrive.’