Music in Scotland is in “crisis”, according to some of the country’s most famous acts including Franz Ferdinand, Young Fathers and Biffy Clyro.

More than 170 Scottish musicians have signed an open letter to John Swinney, warning him of a “cultural catastrophe” due to cuts in arts funding.

The letter, drafted by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), is in in response to cuts to cultural funding, and urges the First Minister to rethink the Scottish Government’s approach to the arts.

With Paolo Nutini, The Proclaimers and Karine Polwart also signees of the document, the association is urging other musicians from Scotland and beyond to support the campaign.

Key artist signatories also include: Biffy Clyro, Paolo Nutini, Franz Ferdinand, The Proclaimers, Karine Polwart, Mogwai, Young Fathers, Glasvegas, Frightened Rabbit, Joesef, The Twilight Sad, Fatherson, Barry Can’t Swim, Honeyblood, Kathryn Joseph, Dead Pony, Vukovi, C Duncan, Elephant Sessions, Julie Fowlis, Hen Hoose, Seonaid Aitken, Stanley Odd, TAAHLIAH, Juliette Lemoine, SHHE, Carla J Easton, Fergus McCreadie, Niteworks, Horse, and Withered Hand, with the SMIA reporting the list expanding every hour.

The 48-hour campaign will close on Friday August 30 at 2pm before being sent to the First Minster.

“Culture funding must be deemed essential,” the letter states, as it warns of the far-reaching impacts on the entire music ecosystem. “Without the ability to secure funding, many artists and industry freelancers will be unable to sustain creative activities. This will lead to critical job losses and sector skills vanishing, damaging Scotland’s music industry irrevocably, along with the Scottish economy.”

The letter’s main request is for the government to confirm the previously-committed cultural investment of £10.7m for this financial year, which would allow Creative Scotland to re-open the Open Fund for Individuals as well as applications for the Access to Music Making and Strengthening Youth Music Funds.

There is also the matter of a planned £25m increase in cultural funding for 2025, and the pledged £100 million annual cultural funding increase by 2028-29, both of which are deemed crucial to the wellbeing of the arts in Scotland.

Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos said: “This is a disappointingly short sighted cut which will cost exponentially more than what is saved in the short term financially.

“The arts are how a nation knows who they are. Without them we have an identity as two dimensional as the bottom line of a balanced account.”

And Stina Tweeddale of Honeyblood – a previous recipient of the Creative Scotland funding – said: “I implore the Scottish Government to reconsider this move, as there is no doubt that a lack of this support will have a colossal impact on the arts sector. We are more than just entertainment.”

Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and creative director of the SMIA, added: “This is a cultural emergency of unprecedented scale, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

“We are facing the loss of vital jobs, creative careers and our diverse cultural identity. The time to act is now.

“We need every voice to unite and demand that the Scottish Government fulfils its commitments.

“Our sector’s survival – and Scotland’s cultural future – depends on it. Culture funding must be deemed essential.”

The letter can be read and signed at www.smia.org.uk/cultural-funding-crisis.