A scheme to increase children's participation in artistic activities that was controversially axed last year by the Scottish Government was also attracting at least £2m in extra funding for youth arts, confidential papers reveal.

The Scottish Arts Council documents, secured by The Herald through the Freedom of Information Act, clearly show the shock and surprise at the SAC, local authorities and arts bodies when it was decided that the cultural co-ordinator scheme was to be wound up.

One e-mail to the SAC from a cultural co-ordinator in Dumfries and Galloway said that news of the cut was a "devastating blow". Another described it as "madness".

An e-mail from Iain Munro, the co-director of arts at the SAC, said that the lack of knowledge about the scheme apparently exhibited by Culture Minister Linda Fabiani when she spoke about it in parliament was "very concerning".

Last year, the Scottish Government told the SAC it was to cut funds to the scheme by 2010. This year, its budget will be £2.65m, in 2009 it will be reduced to £2.15m and then in 2010 it will be zero.

The cultural co-ordinator programme currently operates across all 32 local authorities in Scotland and more than 1 00 staff work as co-ordinators, 70 of them full-time. The cut was decided before the first Budget of the SNP administration.

The Scottish Government said it was cutting money to the service because of "tougher financial constraints".

A presentation document made by the National Arts Education Network (NAEN) on October 17 says that additional funds were brought to cultural education by the scheme.

"Over the past two years alone, the investment in the creative links and cultural co-ordinators posts have generated significant additional funding and in-kind support from a wide range of local and national funding sources," it says.

In its notes, the presentation document states: "From a sample of nine authorities, the programme generated £2,094,334 additional income." This figure is taken from a report made on the results of the pilot programme, published in 2006.

Ms Fabiani's comments about the scheme, in a debate in parliament, confounded some in the SAC.

In a parliamentary question about the cut, Malcolm Chisholm, the Labour MSP for Edinburgh North and Leith, asked why the service was being cut when the SAC wanted to expand it.

Ms Fabiani replied: "I am hearing about all the great work that is done by the cultural co-ordinators but no-one can tell me how those cultural co-ordinators were employed, or how many were new posts and how many were people who were already doing fantastic work in local authorities and who will continue to do fantastic work in local authorities."

In an internal e-mail sent on January 11 this year, Iain Munro, the co-director of arts, wrote to Jim Tough, the SAC's chief executive: "Jim, this is very concerning, and at face value, could indicate a lack of understanding of the programme, the background and the issues."

Ceramics threat
THE last degree course in ceramics in Scotland could be abolished under a proposal being considered by Glasgow School of Art.

A decline in numbers of students across the UK interested in the subject has led to the course being deemed unviable.

If the proposal is accepted by the school's academic council, the subject would cease to be taught in 2013 when the current group of students complete their course.

The proposal has caused concern and dismay among students and ceramic artists, who fear the entire ceramics department could be under threat.

A final decision will be taken next month.