Politicians share concerns about ‘legality’ of explicit sex film which received £85k of public funds

AN MSP has questioned the “legality” of an explicit sex film awarded nearly £85,000 of public funds.

Scottish Labour’s Neil Bibby hit out as Scotland’s Culture Secretary said he “shared the concerns” raised at Creative Scotland’s decision to award public money to the Rein project.

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The public arts body came under scrutiny at the weekend after The Scottish Sun revealed £84,555 was awarded in January to artist Leonie Rae Gasson to develop the show.

The project was recruiting six performers to take part in filming a 45-minute long video installation featuring “daddies lurking in the woods” and “lovers frolicking in long grass.”

Those who participated in the show were to be paid £270 per day to take part in the “non-simulated” sex.

Mr Robertson told MSPs today: “I share the concerns that have been raised, including by Creative Scotland itself. I can see no way where what has been described should be in receipt of public funding.”

And Mr Bibby told Holyrood: “There are clearly questions to be answered, not just about the appropriateness of what was planned with public funds, but also the legality.”

The Labour MSP called for the arts body to release the funding application in and for the money to be “clawed back”.

Mr Robertson said MSPs should “await the conclusions from Creative Scotland” who are probing the grant award.

Creative Scotland said at the weekend the initial application did not indicate how explicit the 45-minute production would be.

But the government agency confirmed it would review the funding for the project.

A statement said Rein’s show is “considerably more explicit” than first indicated in its application to the National Lottery Open Fund.