Story perspectives

Hannah Mary Goodlad Hires £11,000 Artist-in-Residence

By Drooid · Oct 12, 2026, 10:39 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Shetland MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad hired an artist in residence for £11,000 from her budget.
The role is a four-month contract funded by Goodlad’s budget.
Goodlad appointed a communications assistant to translate into Shetland language for £12,500.
Reform MSP Max Bannerman called the hiring “propaganda” and urged scrapping the advert.
Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said the spend is out of touch with Scots facing fuel bills.

History

Historical Context

Austerity measures introduced in 2008-2009 triggered a decade of cuts that contributed to a £236 million (20%) drop in public arts funding from 2010-2020. Today, Shetland MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad’s £23,500 artist hire again sparks the ongoing partisan debate over cultural spending, with Reform MSP Max Bannerman denouncing it as wasteful.

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Story summary

Shetland MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad hired an artist in residence for £11,000 from her budget.
The role is a four-month contract funded by Goodlad’s budget.
Goodlad appointed a communications assistant to translate into Shetland language for £12,500.
Reform MSP Max Bannerman called the hiring “propaganda” and urged scrapping the advert.
Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said the spend is out of touch with Scots facing fuel bills.

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