Scotland’s cultural funding body has cut support for an arts project involving real sex acts.
The Rein project was awarded £84,555 in January, through Creative Scotland and the National Lottery Open Fund.
The 45-minute art installation planned to pay people £270 per day to take part in sex acts.
Creative Scotland has now found the project breached its funding conditions as changes had been made without consultation.
It will also try to get back the money given to the project so far.
The move comes after heavy criticism from politicians and feminist groups.
The women’s rights group For Women Scotland said the proposed project dehumanised women and promoted “unhealthy and dangerous” relationships.
A statement from Creative Scotland said: “Following a review of the application, assessment, and contractual agreement regarding the project Rein, Creative Scotland has made the decision to withdraw support for this project and will be seeking recovery of funding paid in respect of this award to date.
“What has emerged in the latest phase of the project represents a breach of the conditions of funding award, as the nature of the project has changed.
“The central role that ‘non-simulated’ sex acts now play in the project marks a significant change to the nature of the work presented in the original application which was assessed for funding,” it added.
‘Magical erotic journey’
Project director Leonie Rae Gasson is is based in Glasgow. Her website biography describes her as someone who “approaches her work from a queer and neurodivergent perspective.”
A recruitment advert for Rein stated that actors must be over the age of 18 and asked for people with previous sex work experience to apply.
The project website said it would take audiences on a “magical, erotic journey through a distinctly Scottish landscape” and described it as ending with a secret cave sex party.
Creative Scotland said the Rein project announced the changes on its website without consultation with the agency.
It added: “Creative Scotland makes in the region of 2,000 funding awards each year. We support artists and projects across all art-forms, some of which are challenging in content, and push creative and social boundaries.
“However, Creative Scotland has important responsibilities to the public for the appropriate use of public funding, and, as recipients of that public funding, award recipients also have legal responsibilities as reflected in their funding contract.”
