Edinburgh Sucks! | “Get off your arse” says Sean Connery

Jack McConnell

“Get off your arse” says Sean Connery

By The Basa ⋅ May 1, 2005 ⋅

This is the message that Edinburgh born, former James Bond actor, Sean Connery gave this weekend to political leaders in Scotland.

In comments that will embarrass the current culture minister, Patricia Ferguson, Connery says he has directly approached his own friends for funding help and urges political leaders to get off their “arse”.

Scotland has had 6 culture ministers since devolution, that is a rate of one per year. In his warranted outburst Sir Sean’s ire was prompted by the long-delayed attempts to establish the Scottish National Photography Centre (SNPC), of which he is a patron.

“They talk about art, they talk about education, education, education. Well this [the museum of photography] is indigenous to Edinburgh and the fact that it is of international importance is quite a well kept secret.”

In opera, wales have unveiled a new Opera house and Scottish opera has made its chorus redendant and has been forced to cancel major productions for a year.

Yesterday author Ian Rankin said he agreed with Connery and said the only reason more people in Scotland did not speak out against the Executive was because they relied on its funding.

Rankin said: “The cultural strategies do not seem to be leading anywhere. What the art world desperately wants is decisions to be made and a minister who is going to stick around for more than 12 months.

More info: Connery lambasts ministers over arts