Brian Ferguson

Arts industry leaders are campaigning for a new Culture Act to be introduced in the next term of the Scottish Parliament to boost the value of the £5.7bn industry & unleash a “wealth of untapped potential.” Current culture support is said to be “fragile.”
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2564349...

Inside the launch of BBC Radio Scotland's new breakfast-time programme Martin Geissler and Laura Maciver on Good Morning Scotland's replacement.

📻 Some fascinating insights into the making of Radio Scotland’s new breakfast show here - and a fair bit of myth-busting too. Will you be tuning in? 📻
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2564171...

One of our five most-read articles on any subject over the last 24 hours.

“Pressure on organisations to immediately end funding relationships that may be impossible to replace in the medium term risks damaging the very institutions and platforms that are essential to enabling people across Scotland to debate the challenging issues of our time.”

Scotland’s arts sector is facing a talent crisis - and Angus Robertson warns why Scotland’s arts sector is warning that increasing pressure on cultural leaders may drive talent away, raising fears about the long-term health of…

“Disinvestment campaigns, regardless of their primary intent, can place immediate and existential financial pressures on our invaluable cultural organisations and may discourage future individual and corporate giving to the culture sector in Scotland.”
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2563956...

Kate Forbes MSP wins The ScottishPower Green Champion – sponsored by ScottishPower at The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards 2025, in assoc with ScottishPower

LIVE updates: www.heraldscotland.com/news...

#politicianawards25

Michael Marra MSP wins Community MSP of the Year at The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards 2025, in association with ScottishPower

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Kate Forbes MSP wins Politics in Business Award – sponsored by Big Partnership at The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards 2025, in assoc with ScottishPower

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Màiri McAllan MSP wins One to Watch – supported by ScottishPower at The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards 2025, in association with ScottishPower

Follow LIVE updates: www.heraldscotland.com/news...

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Elena Whitham MSP wins Donald Dewar Debater of the Year at The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards 2025, in association with ScottishPower

Follow LIVE updates: www.heraldscotland.com/news...

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Douglas Ross MSP and the Education, Children and Young People Committee win Committee MSP of the Year at The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards 2025, in assoc with ScottishPower

www.heraldscotland.com/news...

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✨ Stay tuned to our live blog for all the drama and glamour from The Herald’s Scottish Politician of the Year Awards. ✨
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2563610... #PoliticianAwards25

Scots folk star hits out after being ditched by band as two other members quit Norrie MacIver was told he was no longer wanted as singer after the band's biggest ever concert at the Hydro in Glasgow.

The strange case of the award-winning Scottish folk group which has lost three members within weeks of their biggest ever show at the Hydro - including a lead singer who was told he was no longer wanted.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2563836...

KT Tunstall reveals plans for 'powerful' stage show focusing on deaf character The Singer will run throughout the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

🎸 KT Tunstall reveals songwriting plans for “powerful” new Scottish gig-theatre show which will launch at Dundee Rep and be performed at the Traverse throughout the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. 🎸
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2563635... @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Wow: This has been the third most-read article - on any subject - on The Herald website over the last 24 hours. Thanks to everyone who has read and shared it.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any arts news you think I should know about!

The front page of The Herald on Wednesday. @heraldscotland.bsky.social

🎯 The Herald is heading in the right direction. Here’s 20 reasons why you should snap up a subscription to the world’s longest-running national newspaper - for just £20 a year.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562959... @heraldscotland.bsky.social

📚 Exclusive: Waterstones is under fire from a leading Edinburgh bookshop after it discovered the UK’s biggest book-selling chain is planning to open on its doorstep after snapping up a prime site beside a tram stop. 📚
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908... @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Future funding for Scottish theatre where Brian Cox made his debut under threat Targeting of cultural venues and attractions triggers 'city of culture cuts' warning.

Absolute madness.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562144...

📚Calling all contacts in Scottish arts, culture, literature and publishing: Please do all you can to help support and spread the word about The Herald's Christmas appeal with the Scottish Book Trust.📚

🔥 Exclusive: The filming of nine series of The Traitors at a 19th century castle in the Highlands has delivered a multi-million pound boost for the local economy and supported more than 750 jobs since filming began in 2022. 🔥
Full details & reaction: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2560788...

It is 44 years since a group of jeans factory workers staged a sudden protest against its planned closure - which turned into a 7-month “sit in.” Now the women who barricaded themselves inside their own workplace are to inspire a new Scottish stage show.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2558527...

Broadway and Hollywood star returns to Scotland to play iconic female character Gayle Rankin will lead the cast of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - her last major stage show in Scotland as a teenager,

🎟️ Broadway & Hollywood star Gayle Rankin, who left Scotland for New York when she was 17, is to return to lead the cast of a new National Theatre of Scotland production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social interview: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2558937... 🎟️

🎶 More big news for Edinburgh’s culture scene: National Centre for Music secures £5m lottery windfall, revamped Calton Hill building to open at end of 2027, Scottish Government & Edinburgh City Council to be asked to meet final costs of £70m project.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2558660...

Ex-SNP MP Mhairi Black to make acting debut in new BBC drama The ex-politician has swapped the debating chamber for A TV set

Definitely didn’t see this one coming…
Mhairi Black: “I’m excited to be joining Counsels and look forward to getting stuck in to playing Detective Inspector Bridges.”
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2558073...

Out in the Hills: Alan Cumming to bring stars to Pitlochry for 'queer festival' Evelyn Glennie, Val McDermid, Zander Murray, Mhairi Black to appear in inaugural edition of new annual event.

🎟️ Just announced: Alan Cumming is to bring Sir Ian McKellen, Armistead Maupin, Graham Norton, Evelyn Glennie, Zander Murray, Jackie Kay and Mhairi Black to Pitlochry Festival Theatre for a new mid-winter queer festival. 🎟️
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2557296...

OMG: Santa has been kicked out of St Andrew Square. The spirit of Scrooge is alive and well in Edinburgh! Will he (and his elves!) find a new home for Christmas? You won’t find this festive miserabalism on Netflix! www.heraldscotland.com/news/2556972... @turvill.bsky.social
🎅 🧝 🎄 ❄️ 🎅 🧝 🎄 ❄️ 🎅 🧝 🎄 ❄️

Indeed, although I think this can only strengthen Cumbernauld’s case. Edinburgh is not exactly short of concert venues. The Scottish Government can’t just turn its back on Cumbernauld and North Lanarkshire, esp given the theatre’s track record & the number of jobs involved.

NEW: The Scottish Government has agreed to triple its spending on Edinburgh’s new 1000-capacity concert hall to allow work to begin within weeks - despite the cost soaring to £162m. John Swinney has signed off an additional £20m for the project.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2556757...

“With jobs, livelihoods and an entire town’s cultural life at stake here, all involved need to decide if they want Cumbernauld Theatre to have a future or not. If they do, as they should, they need to act now lest they lose a vital part of Scotland’s artistic ecology for good.”