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A Scottish cultural development body is considering a decision to award around £85,000 of public funding to an arts project involving “hardcore” sex performances.
Director Leonie Ray Gasson secured funding for the development of Rein from Creative Scotland through the National Lottery Open Fund in January.
The project's website describes it as a 45-minute art installation that pays participants £270 per day to take part in “unsimulated” sex, including “hardcore” acts. There is.
Feminist activist Scotland for Women said the project would “dehumanise” women and encourage “unhealthy and dangerous” relationships.
While Reign's recruitment ad requires actors to be over 18 and asks those with experience of sex work “particularly in the field of pornography” to apply, the project's website invites viewers to ” “We will take you on a journey through a magical and erotic world.” A distinctly Scottish landscape. ”
Creative Scotland initially told The Sunday Post it was “aware of the concerns” and said it would look into the project.
They added in a later statement that Lane was “much more clearly in the act” than he was in the original application.
They said: “We are therefore considering this award and will discuss next steps with the applicant and other partners in the project.”
In a description of the project, Gasson said, “If you are chosen to be cast, our intimacy coordinator will work with you to help you more clearly identify your specific needs and boundaries with the sexual aspects of your work.'' I will.”
“This is a pro-sex, pro-sex worker project, so even if your character doesn't have sex, there will be people around you who do.”
MSP Meghan Gallacher raises concerns about project
The project's website adds that the event will end with a secret cave sex party, and describes some sexual terms that will then “explode on screen.”
The project also says it will “explore new approaches to intimacy regulation and non-simulated sex.”
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said: 'Given the concerns raised here, Scottish Government ministers have confirmed that a robust process was followed before handing over taxpayers' money for the programme. We need to make that clear.”
The Scottish Government said funding decisions were taken independently by arts organizations.
Scotland for Women told the Scottish Sun: “At a time when genuine arts projects are struggling to find funding, organizations supported by the Scottish Government appear to be funneling money into projects that dehumanize women and promote unhealthy and dangerous relationships. is.”
A Creative Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of the concerns raised about this project and are investigating the matter. We will provide further details in due course.”
Gasson is a Glasgow-based director who describes himself in his website bio as someone who “approaches his work from a queer and neurodivergent perspective”.
The project is listed as starting in the fall of 2025.
