A Scottish arts organization has received nearly £1 million in taxpayer funding, drawing criticism due to its involvement with a controversial Palestine-themed event titled ‘From the Rivers to the Seas.’
Arika, a not-for-profit community interest company, was awarded £911,950 through Creative Scotland’s multi-year funding program for the 2025-2028 period. The organization is set to host an event at the Glasgow arts venue Tramway, which is also funded by Creative Scotland and managed by Glasgow Life, a council-funded body.
The phrase ‘From the rivers to the seas,’ a variation of ‘from the river to the sea,’ has been interpreted by critics as advocating for the end of the Israeli state.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay stated that while Creative Scotland might distance itself from the show’s title, its funding of Arika makes it accountable. He also suggested that the Scottish government, led by John Swinney, bears responsibility for allocating public funds to what he described as questionable projects.
Tramway had previously faced accusations of antisemitism for hosting an event called ‘Episode 12: From the Rivers to the Sea.’ Advertisements for this event featured the pluralized phrase and coincided with a series of discussions on the Israeli actions in Gaza. Organizers described the event as an effort to ‘pluralise Palestine to unsettle colonialism everywhere,’ featuring artists, academics, and activists discussing Palestine, colonialism, abolitionism, and social justice.
Elliot Davis, former chairman of the Judeo-Christian Alliance, called the phrase ‘virulent hate speech,’ asserting it calls for Israel's eradication. He expressed disappointment that the SNP government would support such content through Creative Scotland.
Creative Scotland maintained that it does not interfere with the programming decisions of the organizations it funds, emphasizing that Arika receives stable funding for its operations and programs as one of 262 cultural organizations across Scotland.
A spokesman for Glasgow Life affirmed the organization's commitment to political neutrality, noting that the themes are widely discussed globally.
Arika stated that its festival reflects solidarity with Palestinians amidst what it described as an ongoing genocide. The Scottish Government reiterated Creative Scotland’s position that the quango has no influence over the programming choices of its funded entities.